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DOCTRINE, 


Constitution  /nd  Discipline 


OF  THE 


United  Brethren  in  Christ. 


DAYTON,   OHIO: 
MUTED  BRETHREN   PUBLISHiNG  HOUSE, 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

CHAPTER  1.— Origin  of  the  Church 5 

CHAPTER  11.— Go7ifesdon  of  Faith 11 

CHAPTER  IIL— (7on8(t(ttetG» ,....  13 

CHAPTER  IV.— Members 16 

Section  1.    Reception  of  members 16 

Section  2.    Duties  of  members 18 

Sections.    Trial  of  members 22 

Section  4.    Transfer  and  dismission  of  members...  26 

CHAPTER  Y— Government  of  the  Church 27 

Section  1.    Classes 27 

Section  2,    Duties  of  a  leader 28 

Sections.    Stewards  and  their  duties 28 

Section  4.    Official  meetings  for  stations 29 

Sections.    Quarterly  conference 30 

Section  6.    Annual  conference 35 

Section  7.    General  Conference 38 

CHAPTER  YL—Minietry  of  the  Church 42 

Section  1.    Exhorters 42 

Section  2.    Quarterly  conference  preachers 43 

Section  3.     Annual  conference  preachers 44 

Section  4.    Reception    of    preachers    from    other 

churches 47 

Section  5.    Election  of  elders 48 

Section  6,    Ordination  of  elders 50 

Section  7.    Duties  of  elders 53 

Sections.    Presiding  elders  and  their  duties 54 

Section  9.    Bishops— election  and  duties 55 

Section  10.  Preachers'  duties 58 

Section  11.  Itinerant  preachers' duties 60 

Section  12.  Preachers    salaries 64 

Section  13.  Trial  of  preachers 6^ 

Section  14.  Transfer  of  preachers 68 

CHAPTER  Yll— The  Itinerancy,    Organization  and 

Support 69 

CHAPTER  YllL-Appeah 71 

Section  1.    From  decision  of  a  class 72 

Section  2.    From  decision  of  quarterly  conference  72 

Section  4.    From  decision  of  an  annual  conference  72 


iV  DISCIPLINE. 

CHAPTER  IX.—Duliee  in  General 73 

Section  1.    Necessity  of  union  among  ourselves 73 

Section  2.    Visiting  from  house  to  house 74 

Section  3.    Singing 76 

CHAPTER  X— Moral  Reform 75 

Section  1.    Temperance 75 

Section  2.    Slavery 7^ 

Section  3.    Secret  societies 77 

Section  4.    Oaths 80 

Section  5.     VVar 80 

CHAPTER  XI.— Doctrinal  PuhUcatiom 81 

CHAPTER  Xll— Formulas 81 

Section  1.    Marriage  Ceremony 81 

Section  2.    Burial  of  the  dead 83 

CHAPTER  Xlll.-Chartera  85 

CHAPTER  XlY.-S.ibbafh-echooh 85 

Section  1.    Duties  to  children  and  Sabbath-schools  85 
Section  2.    Constitution  of  the  General  S.  S.  Asso- 
ciation   86 

Sections.     Annual  conference  relations  and  duties  89 

Section  i.     Organization  of  Sabbath  schools 90 

Section  5-     Relation  of  S.  S    to  missionary  work...  91 

Section  6.    Form  of  constitution  of  Sabbath-school  92 

CHAPTER  XV.— Miss  ion  ai-y  Society 94 

CHAPTER  XVI. —  Womanx  Missionary  Association..  99 

By-laws 100 

Branch  constitution 103 

Local  constitution... 105 

CHAPTER  XYIL- Church- Erection  Society 106 

CHAPTER  XYIll.  —  Prititing  Ettahlishment 109 

CHAPTER  XIX.  — Course  0/  Reading  and  Sludy Ill 

Section  1.     English Ill 

Section  2.    German 114 

CHAPTER  XX  —Meeting  IIous^-s  and  Parsonages....  115 

CHAPTER  XXl— Board  of  Education 119 

CHAPTER  XXIL— Boundaries 124 

Section  1.    Bishop's  districts ; 124 

Section  2.    Annual  conferences 125 


CHAPTER  L 

ORiaiN  OF  THE  UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST. 


In  the  eighteenth  century  it  pleased  the  Lord 
our  God  to  awaken  persons  in  different  parts  of 
the  world,  who  should  raise  up  the  Christian  1*0- 
ligion  from  its  fallen  state  and  preach  the  gospel 
of  Christ  crucified  in  its  purity. 

About  the  middle  of  the  said  century,  the 
Lord,  in  mercy,  remembered  the  Germans  in 
America,  who,  living  scattered  in  this  extensivo 
country,  had  but  seldom  an  opportunity  to  hear 
the  gospel  of  a  crucified  Savior  preached  to  them 
in  their  native  language. 

Among  others,  he  raised  up  William  Otter- 
BEiN  and  Martin  Boehm,  in  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  George  A.  Geeting,  in  the  State 
of  Maryland,  armed  them  with  spirit,  grace, 
and  strength  to  labor  in  his  neglected  vineyard, 
and  to  call,  among   the  Germans  in  America,, 


6  DISCIPLINE. 

sinners  to  repentance.  These  men  obeyed  the 
call  of  their  Lord  and  Master.  Their  labors 
were  blest,  and  they  established  in  many  places 
excellent  societies  and  led  many  precious  souls 
to  Jesus  Christ.  Their  sphere  of  action  spread 
more  and  more,  so  that  they  found  it  necessarj' 
to  look  about  for  more  fellow-laborers  to  engage 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  for  the  harvest  was 
great  and  the  laborers  but  few.  The  Lord  called 
others,  who  were  willing  to  devote  their  strength 
to  his  service.  Such,  then,  were  accepted  by  one 
or  other  of  the  preachers  as  fellow-laborers. 

The  number  of  members  in  the  society  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country  continued  to  increase 
from  time  to  time,  and  the  gracious  work  of 
i-eformation  spread  through  the  states  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland,  and  Virginia.  Several  great 
meetings  were  appointed  and  held  annually. 
On  such  occasions  Otterbein  would  hold  par- 
ticular conversations  with  the  preachers  then 
present,  and  represent  to  them  the  importance 
of  the  ministry  and  the  necessity  of  their  ut- 
most endeavors  to  save  souls.  At  one  of  these 
meetings  it  was  resolved  to  hold  a  conference 
with  all  the  preachers,  in  order  to  take  into  con- 
sideration how,  and  in  what  manner,  they  might 
be  most  useful. 

The  first  conference  was  held  in  the  city  of 


DISCIPLINE.  7 

Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1789.    The  following  preachers  were  present : 
Wm.  Otterbein,  Adam  Lehman, 

Martin  Boehm,  John  Ernst, 

Geo,  a.  Geeting,  Henry  Weidner, 

Christian  Newcomer. 
The  second  conference  was  held  in  Paradise 
Township,  York  County,  Pennsylvania,  at  the 
house  of  Bro.  Spangler,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  1791.  The  following  preachers  were  pres- 
ent: 
Wm.  Otterbein,  John  Ernst, 

Martin  Boehm,  J.  G.  Pfrimmer, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,  John  Neidig, 

Ch'n.  Newcomer  Benedict  Sanders, 

Adam  Lehman. 
After  mature  deliberation  how  they  might  la- 
bor most  usefully  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord, 
they  again  appointed  such  as  fellow-laborers 
whom  they  had  cause  to  believe  had  experienc- 
ed true  religion  in  their  souls. 

In  the  meantime  the  number  of  members 
continued  to  increase,  and  the  preachers  were 
obliged  to  appoint  an  annual  conference,  in  or- 
der to  unite  themselves  more  closely  and  to 
labor  more  successfully  in  the  vinej^ard  of  the 
Lord ;  for  some  had  been  Presbyterians  or  Ger- 
man Reformed,  some    Lutherans,    and  others 


8  DISCIPLINE. 

Mennonites,  They  accordingly  appointed  a  con- 
ference to  be  held  on  the  2oth  of  September, 
1800,  in  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  at  the 
bouse  of  Bro.  Frederick  Kemp,  The  follow- 
ing preachers  were  present  • 
Wm.  O'lTERBEiN,  Christian  Krum, 

Martin  Boehm,  Henry  Krum, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,  John  Hershey^ 

Ch*n.  Newcomer^  Jacob  Geisingeb, 

Adam  Lehman,  Henry  Boehm, 

Abraham  Tracksel,,       Diet'k  Aurand, 

J.  G,  Pfrimmer. 
There  they  united  themselves  into  a  society 
which  beai-s  the  name  ''United  Brethren  in 
Christ,*'  and  elected  Wm.  Otterbein  and 
Martin  Boehm  as  superintendents  or  bishops, 
and  agreed  that  each  of  them  should  be  at  lib- 
erty as  to  the  mode  and  manner  of  baptism,  to 
perform  it  according  to  his  own  convictions. 

From  this  time  the  society  increasing  still 
more  and  more,  preachers  were  appointed  to 
travel  regularly,  inasmuch  as  the  number  of 
preaching-places  could  not  otherwise  be  attend- 
ed to;  and  the  work  spread  itself  into  the  states 
of  Ohio  and  Kentucky.  It  then  became  neces- 
sary to  appoint  a  conference  in  the  State  of  Ohi<^ 
because  it  was  conceived  too  laborious  for  the 
preachers  who  labored  in  those  states  to  travel 
annually  such  a  great  distance  to  conference. 


DISCIPLINE,  0 

In  the  meantime  Brothers  Boehm  and  Geet- 
ITSG  died,  and  Brother  Otterbein  desired  that 
another  bishop  should  be  elected  (because  in- 
firmity and  old  age  would  not  permit  him  to 
superintend  any  longer),  who  should  take  charge 
of  the  society,  and  preserve  discipline  and  order. 
It  was  resolved  at  a  former  conference  that 
whenever  one  of  the  bishops  died  another  should 
be  elected  in  his  place:  accordingly,  Brother 
Christian  Newcomer  was  elected  bishop,  to 
take  charge  of  and  superintend  the  concerns  of 
the  society. 

The  want  of  a  discipline  in  the  society  had  long 
been  deeply  felt,  and  partial  attempts  having 
been  made  at  different  times,  it  was  resolved  at 
the  conference  held  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  that  a 
general  conference  should  be  held  in  order  to 
accomplish  the  same,  in  a  manner  not  derogatory 
to  the  word  of  God.  The  members  of  this  con- 
fsrence  were  to  be  elected  from  among  the 
preachers  in  the  diflerent  parts  of  the  country, 
by  a  vote  of  the  society  in  general.  The  follow- 
ing brethren  were  duly  elected : 
Ch'n  Newcomer,  Daniel,  Troyer, 

Abr'm  Heistand,  Geo.  Benedum, 

Andrew  Zeller,  Abr'm  Tracksel, 

Christian  Berger,         Henry  G.  Spayth, 
Abraham  Myer,  I.  Nighswanqer, 


10  discipline. 

John  Schneider,  Christian  B^um, 

Henry  Kumler,  Jacob  Bowlus. 

The  conference  convened  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1815,  near  Mount  Pleasant,  Westmoreland  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania.  After  mature  deliberation, 
they  presented  to  their  brethren  a  discipline, 
containing  the  doctrine  and  rules  of  the  Church, 
desiring  that  they,  together  with  the  word  ©f 
God,  should  be  strictly  observed. 

God  is  a  God  of  order,  but  where  there  is  no 
order  nor  church-discipline  the  sj)irit  of  love 
and  charity  will  be  lost. 

Therefore,  brethren,  we  beseech  you  to  follow 
the  example  of  our  Lord,  as  it  is  written,  "  Be 
kindly  affectioned  one  to  another  with  brotherly 
love ;  in  honor  preferring  one  another.  Let  the 
mind  be  in  you  which  was  in  Christ,  who  took 
upon  hiin  the  form  of  a  servant,  humbled  him- 
self, and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the 
death  of  the  cross,"  that  by  his  grace  we  may 
submit  ourselves  one  to  another  in  the  fear  of 
God.  He  who  will  not  submit  is  in  want  of 
humble  love.  Jesus  said,  "Whosoever  will  be 
chief  among  you,  let  him  be  your  servant.  By 
this  shall  all  men  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples, 
if  ye  have  love  one  to  another ;  and  whoso  lov- 
eth  not  his  brother  abideth  in  death."  Let  us 
walk  in  newness  of  life,  that  the  prayer  of  our 


DISCIPLINE.  11 

Lord  may  be  answered  in  us;  that  we  may  be 
one  in  him,  and  that  he  may  give  us  the  glory 
which  he  gave  to  his  disciples,  that  Ave  may  be 
one  even  as  he  and  the  Father  are  one.  There- 
fore, beloved  brethren,  let  us  strive  to  be  like- 
minded,  having  the  same  love,  being  of  one  ac- 
cord, of  one  mind.  Let  no  one  speak  or  think 
evil  of  his  brother,  but  pray  God  that  he  may 
grant  us  iiis  Spirit  and  an  earnest  desire  to  lead 
a  truly  devoted  life,  to  the  honor  and  glory  of 
his  holy  name.    Amen. 


CHAPTER  II. 

CONFESSION   OP   FAITH. 

In  the  name  of  God  we  declare  and  confess 
before  all  men,  that  we  believe  in  the  only  true 
God,  the  Faliier,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
that  these  three  are  one  :  the  Father  in  the  Son, 
the  Son  in  the  Father,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  equal 
in  essence  or  being  with  both;  that  this  triune 
God  created  the  iieavens  and  the  earth,  and  all 
that  in  them  is,  visible  as  well  as  invisible,  and 
furthermore  sustains,  governs,  jDrotects,  and 
supports  the  same. 

We  believe  in  Jesus  Christ ;  tliat  he  is  very 
God  and  man ;  that  he  became  incarnate  by  the 


12  DISCIPLINE, 

I)Ower  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  Virgin  Mary, 
and  was  born  of  her ;  that  he  is  the  Savior  and 
Mediator  of  the  whole  human  race,  if  they  with 
full  faith  in  him  accept  the  grace  proffered  in 
Jesus ;  that  this  Jesus  suffered  and  died  on  the 
cross  for  us,  was  buried,  arose  again  on  the  third 
day,  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sitteth  on  the 
right  hand  of  God,  to  intercede  for  us ;  and  that 
he  shall  come  again  at  the  last  day,  to  judge  the 
quick  and  the  dead. 

We  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost;  that  he  is 
equal  in  being  with  the  Father  and  the  Son,  and 
that  he  comforts  the  faithful,  and  guides  them 
into  all  truth. 

We  believe  in  a  holy  Christian  church,  the 
communion  of  saints,  the  resurrection  of  the 
body,  and  life  everlasting. 

We  believe  that  the  Holy  Bible,  Old  and  New 
Testament,  is  the  word  of  God ;  that  it  contains 
the  only  true  way  to  our  salvation ;  that  every 
true  Christian  is  bound  to  acknowledge  and  re- 
ceive  it  with  the  influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
as  the  only  rule  and  guide ;  and  that  without 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  true  repentance,  forgive- 
ness of  sins,  and  following  after  Christ,  no  one 
can  be  a  true  Christian. 

We  also  believe  that  what  is  contained  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  to-wit :  the  fall  in  Adam  and 


DISCIPLINE,  13 

redemption    through    Jesus    Christ,    shall    be 
preached  throughout  the  world. 

We  believe  that  the  ordinances,  viz:  baptism 
and  the  remembrance  of  the  sufferings  and 
death  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  are  to  be  in  use, 
and  practiced  by  all  Christian  societies;  and 
that  it  is  incumbent  on  all  the  children  of  God 
particularly  to  practice  them;  but  the  manner 
in  which  ought  always  to  be  left  to  the  judg- 
ment and  understanding  of  every  individual. 
Also  the  example  of  was^hing  feet  is  left  to  the 
judgment  of  every  one,  to  practice  or  not;  but 
it  is  not  becoming  of  any  of  our  preachers  or 
members  to  traduce  any  of  their  brethren  whose 
judgment  and  understanding  in  these  respects 
is  different  from  their  own,  either  in  public  or 
private.  Whosoever  shall  make  himself  guilty 
in  this  respect,  shall  be  considered  a  traducer  of 
his  brethren,  and  shall  be  answerable  for  the 
same. 


CHAPTER  III. 

CONSTITUTION. 


We,  the  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  in  the  name  of 
God,  do,  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  for  the 
work  of  the  ministry,   for  the  edifying  of  the 


-14  DISCIPLINE. 

body  of  Christ,  as  well  as  to  produce  and  secure 
a  uniform  mode  of  action,  in  faith  and  practice, 
also  to  define  the  powers  and  the  business  of 
quarterly,  annual,  and  general  conferences,  as 
recognized  by  this  church,  ordain  the  following 
articles  of  Constitution: 

ARTICIiE  I. 

Section  1.  All  ecclesiastical  power  herein 
granted,  to  make  or  repeal  any  rule  of  Disci- 
pline, is  vested  in  a  general  conference,  which 
shall  consist  of  elders,  elected  by  the  members 
In  every  conference  district  throughout  the  so- 
ciety ;  provided,  however,  such  elders  shall  have 
stood  in  that  capacity  three  years,  in  the  confer- 
ence district  to  which  they  belong. 

Sec.  2.  General  Conference  is  to  be  held  every 
four  years ;  the  bishops  to  be  considered  mem- 
bers and  presiding  officers. 

Sec.  3.  Each  annual  conference  shall  place 
before  the  society  the  names  of  all  the  elders 
eligible  to  membership  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence. 

ARTICLE   II. 

Section  1.  The  General  Conference  shall  de- 
fine the  boundaries  of  the  annual  conferences. 

Sec.  2.  The  General  Conference  shall,  at  every 
session,  elect  bishops  from  among  the  elders 


DISCIPLINE.  15 

throughout  the  Church,  who  have  stood  six 
years  in  that  capacity. 

Sec.  3.  The  business  of  each  annual  confer- 
ence shall  be  done  strictly  according  to  Disci- 
pline; and  any  annual  conference  acting  con- 
trary thereunto,  shall,  by  impeachment,  be  tried 
by  the  General  Conference. 

Sec.  4.  No  rule  or  ordinance  shall  at  any 
time  be  passed,  to  change  or  do  away  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  as  it  now  stands,  nor  to  destroy 
the  itinerant  plan. 

Sec.  5.  There  shall  no  rule  be  adopted  that 
will  infringe  upon  the  rights  of  any  as  it  relates 
to  the  mode  of  baptism,  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's-supper,  or  the  washing  of  feet. 

Sec.  6.  There  shall  be  no  rule  made  that  will 
deprive  local  preachers  of  their  votes  in  the 
annual  conferences  to  which  they  severally  be- 
long. 

Sec.  7.  There  shall  be  no  connection  with 
secret  combinations,  nor  shall  involuntary  serv- 
itude be  tolerated  in  any  way. 

Sec.  8.  The  right  of  appeal  shall  be  invio- 
late. 

ARTICLE  III. 

The  right,  title,  interest,  and  claim  of  all 
property,  whether  consisting  in  lots  of  ground 


16  DISCIPLINE. 

meeting-houses,  legacies,  bequests  or  donations 
of  any  kind,  obtained  by  purchase  or  otherwise, 
by  any  person  or  persons,  for  the  use,  benefit, 
and  behoof  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ,  is  hereby  fully  recognized  and 
held  to  be  the  property  of  the  church  aforesaid, 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Theie  shall  be  no  alteration  of  the  foregoing 
constitution,  unless  by  request  of  two  thirds  of 
the  whole  society. 


CHAPTER  IV.— MEMBERS. 

Section  I. 

Meception  of  Members. 

Ques.  How  shall  members  be  taken  into  our 
church? 

Ans.  When  at  any  meeting  a  person  makes 
known  a  desire  to  become  a  member  of  o^ir 
church,  then  the  preacher  present  shall,  in  the 
hearing  of  the  congregation,  ask  such  persons 
the  following  questions : 

1.  Do  you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of 
God,  and  that  therein  only  is  contained  tlie 
knowledge  of  the  way  of  salvation  ? 

2.  Have  you  experienced  the  pardon  of  your 
sins,  and  have  you  now  peace  with  God  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  17 

3.  Are  you  determined  by  the  grace  of  God 
to  follow  Christ,  renouncing  the  world  and  all 
ungodliness,  seeking  to  lead  a  life  of  holiness 
and  devotion  to  God  and  his  cause  ? 

4.  Are  you  willing  to  be  governed  by  our 
church-discipline  ? 

1.  If  the  person  answer  the  above  questions 
in  the  affirmative,  and  no  lawful  objections  be 
made  by  any  member,  then  the  preacher  shall 
give  his  right  hand  to  such  person  as  a  member 
of  our  church,  and  record  the  name  on  the 
church  or  class  book ;  provided,  however,  that 
where  a  church  deems  it  advisable  for  its  protec- 
tion against  imposition  a  committee  may  be  ap- 
pointed, who,  together  with  the  pastor,  may 
make  inquiry  as  to  the  advisability  of  admitting 
such  applicants  to  membership  in  the  Church 
according  to  the  foregoing  requirements. 

2.  Any  person  giving  evidence  that  they  are 
sincerely  seeking  the  Lord,  may  be  received 
under  the  watch-care  of  the  Church,  but  shall 
not  be  reported  as  members,  nor  shall  they  have 
any  vote  in  the  Church. 

3.  If  any  person  thus  received  under  the 
watch-care  of  the  Church  shall  cease  to  manifest 
a  desire  to  seek  the  Lord,  the  preacher  in 
charge,  by  the  consent  of  the  class,  can,  at  any 
time,  after  personal  labor  for  their  salvation  by 


18  DISCIPLINE. 

the  preacher  in  charge  and  class-leader,  if  un- 
successful, publicly  drop  the  name  of  such 
seeker. 

4.  Any  preacher  refusing  or  neglecting  to 
ask  the  foregoing  questions,  or  who  shall  receive 
members  into  the  Church  in  violation  of  this 
order,  shall  be  answerable  for  the  same  to  the 
conference  of  which  he  is  a  member. 

Section  II. 

Duties  of  Members. 

1.  All  members  of  this  church  shall  acknowl- 
edge and  confess  that  they  believe  the  Bible  to 
be  the  word  of  God ;  that  they  will  henceforth 
strive,  with  all  their  hearts,  to  seek  theii  eternal 
welfare  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  work  out  their  sal- 
vation with  fear  and  trembling,  to  the  end  that 
they  may  be  enabled  to  fiee  from  the  wrath  to 
oome. 

2.  Every  member  shall  endeavor  to  lead  a 
godly  life ;  attend  to  the  ordinances  of  God's 
house,  namely,  baptism  and  the  remembrance 
of  the  sufferings  and  death  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ;  be  diligent  in  prayer,  paj  Ucularly  in 
private,  and,  for  his  own  edification,  attend, 
when  practicable,  all  of  our  prayer  and  class 
meetings,  and  meetings  for  public  worship. 

8.    Heads  of    families  should  never  omit  to 


DISCIPLINE.  19 

pray  with  their  families,  morning  and  evening, 
and  set  them  a  good  example  in  all  the  Chris- 
tian virtues. 

4.  Every  one  should  strive  to  walk  as  in  the 
presence  of  God ;  also,  accustom  himself  to  a 
close  communion  with  God  in  all  his  employ- 
ments, and  never  speak  evil  of  his  fellow-beings, 
but  practice  love  toward  friend  and  foe,  do  good 
to  the  poor,  and  endeavor  to  be  a  follower  of 
Jesus  Christ  in  deed. 

5.  Every  one  shall  keep  the  Sabbath-day 
holy,  as  required  in  the  word  of  God ;  neither 
buy  nor  sell,  but  spend  the  same  in  exercises  of 
devotion,  in  reading  and  hearing  the  word  of 
God,  and  with  singing  spiritua^l  h^'mns  to  the 
honor  and  glory  of  God. 

G.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  member  to  lead  • 
quiet,  peaceable,  and  godly  life  among  men,  as 
it  becomes  a  Christian  to  live  in  peace,  and  be 
subject  to  the  higher  or  ruling  powers,  as  the 
word  of  God  requires. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  our  members  to 
encourage  our  Sabbat b-schools  by  their  pres- 
ence when  practicable,  and  always  give  them 
their  aid  and  ijjfluence. 

8.  It  is  the  duty  of  all  members  of  the 
Church  to  pay  toward  the  support  of  the  itin- 
erant ministry,  quarterly,  or  oftener  if  need  be, 


20  DISCIPLINE. 

in  proportion  to  their  ability,  as  God  has  pros- 
pered tbera;  for  the  Lord  hath  ordained  that 
they  who  preach  the  gospel  shall  live  by  th© 
gospel.     (I.  Cor.  ix.  14;  I.  Tim.  v.  18.) 

9'.  Each  member  o-f  our  church  should  will- 
ingly and  freely  contribute  quarterly,  or  oftener, 
if  need  be,  as  God  has  prospered  him  or  her  (I. 
Cor.  xvi.  2),  to  the  support  of  the  helpless  poor. 

10.  When  it  is  known  by  any  of  aur  class- 
leaders  that  there  are  poor  members  among 
thena,  who  by  sickness,  accident,  or  other  una- 
voidable circumstances  have  been  brought  to 
want,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  leader  in  charge 
to  go,  ar  appoint  one  to  wait  upon  the  class,  to 
ask  alms,  nitoney,  clothing,  or  produce,  as  the 
circiunstances  may  require  j  and  should  any  one 
class  be  too  poor  to  alleviate  its  poor,  it  shall  then 
be  made  known  to  the  pastor  in  charge,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  inform  the  different  classes 
on  his  charge ;  and  if  it  should  so  haj^pen  that 
any  one  charge  should  be  insufficient  to  meet 
the  wants  of  its  poor,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
presiding  elder  to  present  the  matter  on  the  dif- 
ferent charges  at  their  quarterly  conferences,  so 
that  the  unavoidably  poor  of  our  churob  may  be 
considered  and  provided  for.  (I.  John,  iii,  17; 
Ps.  xii.  1,  2.) 

11.  Inasmuch  as  the  Lord  has  commanded  us 


DISCIPLINE.  21 

not  to  be  conformed  to  this  world  (Rom.  xii.  2), 
to  lay  apart  all  filthiness,  and  superfluity  of 
naughtiness  (James  i,  21),  and  as  the  prineiplea 
of  the  Christian  religion,  as  taught  both  by  the 
precepts  and  example  of  the  meek  and  adorable 
Savior,  are  in  strict  and  perfect  accordance  with 
these  commandments,  we  therefore  humbly  be- 
seech and  admonish  the  members  of  our  church 
to  observe  these  divine  precepts.  In  like  man- 
ner also  that  women  adorn  themselves  in  mod- 
est apparel,  with  shamefacedness  and  sobriety; 
not  with  braided  hair,  or  gold,  or  pearls,  or 
costly  array,  but  (which  becometh  women  pro- 
fessing godliness)  with  good  works  (I.  Tim.  ii. 
9,  10);  and  whose  adorning  let  it  not  be  that  out- 
ward adorning  of  plaiting  the  hair,  and  of  wear- 
ing of  gold,  or  of  putting  on  of  apparel;  but  let 
it  be  the  hidden  man  of  the  heart,  in  that  which 
is  not  corruptible,  even  the  ornament  of  a  meek 
and  quiet  spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight  of  God  of 
great  price.    (I.  Peter,  iii.  3,  4.) 

The  foregoing  rules  are  drawn  up  for  the  bet- 
ter regulation  of  our  church  ;  and  we  believe 
they  are  founded  in  tlie  word  of  God,  and  in- 
cumbent on  all  who  are  members  of  our  church 
to  observe.  Should  any  violate  or  habitually 
neglect  these  rules,  they  shall  be,  by  their  re- 
spective class-leaders,  admonished  to  reforma- 


22  DISCIPLINE. 

Illation  ;  and  should  they  not  reform,  they  shad 
be  suspended  or  expelled,  as  the  case  may  re- 
quire. 

It  is  the  advice  of  the  General  Conference  that 
alJ  districts,  stations,  circuits,  and  missions 
cheerfully  receive  the  preachers  appointed  by 
the  stationing  committee  of  the  respective  an- 
nual confei'ences. 

Section  III. 
Trial  of  Members. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  members 
tresspass  against  each  other? 

Ans.  "  If  thy  brother  shall  tresspass  against 
thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault  between  thee  and 
him  alone :  if  he  shall  hear  thee,  thou  hast 
gained  thy  brother.  But  if  he  will  not  hear 
thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or  two  more.  And 
if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it  unto  the 
church :  but  if  he  neglect  to  hear  the  church, 
let  him  be  unto  thee  as  a  heathen  man  and  a 
publican  ;"  that  is,  he  shall  be  expelled. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case  of  members 
accused  of  tresspass  or  immoral  conduct? 

Ans.  The  class  shall  appoint  one  or  more  to 
visit  the  accused  brother  or  sister,  and,  if  possi- 
ble reclaim  him  or  her;  but  if  unsuccessful,  he 
or  she  shall  be  tried  by  the  class  to  which  they 


DISCIPLINE.  •    23 

belong,  or  a  committee  thereof,  chosen  by  the 
parties  concerned,  with  the  preacher  in  charge 
of  the  circuit  or  station,  wlio  shall  be  chairman; 
and  if  found  guilty,  the  accused  shall  be  expell- 
ed, unless  satisfaction  be  given  by  an  expression 
of  repentance  or  otherwise.  If  the  accused  re- 
fuse to  choose  his  committee-man,  when  prop- 
erly notified,  the  quarterly  conference  shall 
choose  a  second  person,  and  these  two  a  third, 
which  committee  shall  try  the  case  and  decide. 
Yet  cases  may  happen  where  it  would  be  expe- 
dient to  choose  a  committee  from  any  other 
class  or  classes  than  the  one  to  which  the  parties 
belong  ;  also,  an  elder  may  be  chosen  as  chair- 
man, should  the  preacher  in  charge  deem  it  best 
to  do  so.  But  should  any  member  be  dissatisfi- 
ed with  the  decision,  an  appeal  may  be  had  to 
the  quarterly  conference,  by  giving  notice  there- 
of to  the  preacher  in  charge  or  secretary  of  the 
trial.  (See  section  on  appeals.)  In  such  case, 
however,  the  same  persons  shall  not  sit  in  judg- 
ment on  the  same  case. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  cases  of  neglect 
of  duty  of  any  kind,  imprudent  conduct,  indulg- 
ing sinful  tempers  of  words,  or  disobedience  to 
the  order  and  discipline  of  the  Church? 

Ans.  First,  let  private  reproof  be  given  by 
the  preacher  or  leader ;  and  if  there  be  ''an  ao- 


24  DISCIPLINE. 

knowledgment  of  the  fault,  proper  humiliation, 
and  a  promise  to  reform,  the  person  may  be 
borne  with.  On  a  second  offense,  the  preacher 
or  leader  shall  take  with  him  one  or  two  faithful 
members.  On  a  third  offense,  let  the  case  be 
brought  before  the  Church  or  class,  or  a  select 
committee;  and  if  there  be  no  satisfactory  hu- 
miliation, the  offender  shall  be  expelled  by  vote 
of  the  society. 

In  case  of  trial  under  this  clause,  the  leader 
shall  act  in  behalf  of  the  Church ;  or  if  the 
leader  be  the  offender,  the  steward  shall  act  as 
prosecutor. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case  of  disputes 
between  the  members  or  preachers  ? 

Arts.  The  preacher  to  whom  it  shall  be  known 
shall  inquire  into  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
and  if  necessar3'-,  shall  recommend  to  the  con- 
tending parties  a  reference,  consisting  of  one 
arbiter,  chosen  bj^  the  plaintiff,  and  another  by 
the  defendant,  and  a  third  by  these  two ;  then 
these  three  are  to  decide.  But  if  the  preacher  to 
whom  the  dispute  is  known  shall  refuse  or 
neglect  to  act,  then  the  quarterly  conference 
shall  appoint  one  to  carry  out  the  rule;  and  if 
either  or  both  disputants  refuse  to  choose  an 
arbiter,  the  quarterly  conference  shall  appoint 
the  first  and  second,  and  these  two  a  third,  who 
*all  hear  the  case  and  decide. 


DiSClPi^lNE.  25 

But  if  either  be  dissatisfied  with  the  decision, 
such  may  have  a  right  to  an  appeal  to  the  next 
quarterly  conference  for  a  second  arbitration, 
where  each  party  shall  choose  two  arbiters,  and 
the  four  shall  choose  a  fifth,  a  decision  of  the 
majority  of  whom  shall  be  final.  Any  person 
refusing  to  abide  by  this  decision,  and  every 
member  refusing,  in  case  of  debt  or  dispute,  to 
refer  the  matter  to  arbitration  when  recom- 
mended to  him  by  a  preacher  or  leader,  or  who 
shall  enter  into  a  lawsuit  with  another  member 
before  these  measures  are  taken,  shall  be  ex- 
pelled without  further  process,  and  his  or  her 
name  be  so  recorded  upon  the  church-record  by 
the  preacher  in  charge,  or  the  class-leader,  ex- 
cept when  the  case  is  of  such  a  nature  as  to  re- 
quire and  justify  a  process  at  law,  as  executors 
or  administrators,  or  when  a  member  is  in  dan- 
ger of  suffering  an  unexpected  loss  of  property. 

Every  class-leader  shall  keep  a  record  of  the 
proceedings  of  church-trials,  deaths,  expulsions, 
and  removals,  in  a  book  provided  for  that  pur- 
pose; and  it  shall  be  his  duty,  in  case  uf  an  ap- 
peal, to  furnish  his  record  to  the  quarterly  con- 
ference. 

All  church-trials  shall  be  conducted  in  a  con- 
sistent Christian  manner,  without  the  employ- 
ment of  magistrates  and  attorneys  to  administer 
oaths  and  conduct  investigations. 


26  DISCIPLINE. 

Section  IV. 

Transfer  aiid  Dismission  of  Members. 

When  members  of  our  society  move  from  one 
field  of  labor  to  another  they  shall  obtain  a  cer- 
tificate, by  a  vote  of  the  majority  of  the  class  to 
which  they  belong  signed  by  a  preacher  or 
leader,  except  where  they  are  not  in  reach  of  a 
class,  in  which  case  any  of  our  preachers  may 
give  a  certificate  to  such  persons  if  they  are 
known  to  be  in  good  standing. 

Form  of  Certificate  of  Membership. 

This  is  to  certify  that  A.  B.  is  a  member  of 
good    standing    in    the  Church    of    the  United 

Brethren    in    Christ,   at — ,  and   is  hereby 

recommended  to  the  confidence  and  fellowship 
of  Christians  everj^vvhere. 

[Dates,  etc.] 

Form  of  Certificate  of  Dismission. 

This  is  to  certify  that  A.  B.  has  been  until  ttis 
date  a  member  in  good  standing  in  the  Church 

of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  at ,  and 

at request  is  dismissed  from  the  Church 

by  a  vote  of  the  class. 

Pastor. 

[Dates,  etc.] 

Any  i^erson  receiving  a  certificate  of  member- 
ship of  good  standing  is  amenable  to  the  class 


DISCIPLINE.  27 

from  which  he  received  it,  until  he  deposit  his 
certificate  with  some  other  church  or  class. 


CHAPTER  v.— GOVERNMENT  OF  THE 
CHURCH. 

Section  I. 

Glasses. 

1.  A  class  shall  consist  of  three  or  more  mem- 
bers, who  shall  annually  elect  one  member  from 
their  own  or  some  other  class,  who  shall  be 
called  their  leader,  and  shall  be  elected  before 
the  ensuing  annual  conference. 

2.  Classes  shall  be  divided  hy  a  committee, 
consisting  of  the  preacher  in  charge  and  one  or 
more  brethren,  elected  by  the  Church  at  any 
place  where  it  may  be  deemed  necessary.  Each 
class  so  formed  shall  have  the  power  of  electing 
its  own  leader,  and  shall  be  considered  as  having 
all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  separate  classes. 

3.  In  case  it  becomes  impracticable  to  keep 
up  an  organization  by  the  election  of  class-of- 
ficers, the  members  at  such  place  shall  be  re- 
quired to  join  the  nearest  class  within  six 
months ;  and  any  one  failing  to  do  so  may  be 
dropped. 


28  DISCIPLINE. 

Skction  n. 
Duties  of  a  Leader. 

1.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  meet  his  class,  in 
class  or  prayer  meeting,  at  least  once  a  week, 
to  speak  to  them  concerning  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  their  souls,  and  exhort  them  to  unity 
and  love.  He  shall  extend  the  freedom  of  our 
prayer  and  class  meetings  to  all  sincere  and 
well-disposed  persons  who  may  desire  to  attend 
them. 

2.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  lead  a  pious  life 
and  set  a  godly  example  before  his  class  ;  care- 
fully study  the  Holy  Scriptures,  fully  qualify- 
ing himself  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his 
duties  as  leader  and  counselor  of  his  class. 
When  any  of  his  members  are  sick  or  delin- 
quent in  the  pei'formance  of  any  of  their  duti  s 
as  Christians  he  shall  visit  them,  pray  or  other- 
wise labor  with  them,  as  circumstances  may  re- 
quire. 

Any  class-leader  failing  to  discharge  these 
duties  may,  on  complaint,  be  removed  by  the 
quarterly  conference. 

Section  III. 

Steivards  and  their  Duties. 
Every  class  shall  annually  elect  (or,  if  the  class 
prefer  it,  the  preacher  may  appoint)  one  who 
shall  be  called  the  class-steward. 


DISCIPLINE.  29 

Ques.    What  are  the  duties  of  a  steward  ? 

Ans.  1.  He*  shall  collect  quarterly  contribu- 
tions, or  oftener  than  quarterly,  if  needed,  for 
the  support  of  traveling  preachers.  He  shall 
keep  an  accurate  account  of  the  amount  paid  by 
each  member  of  the  class,  in  a  book  provided  for 
that  purpose,  and  report  the  same  to  each  qua*-- 
terly  conference  or  ofificial  meeting. 

2.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  provide  the  ele- 
ments for  sacrament ;  and  we  earnestly  recom- 
mend the  use  of  unfermented  wine. 

3.  For  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  as 
Stewart  of  his  class,  he  shall  be  accountable  to 
the  quarterly  conference,  which  shall  have  power 
to  dismiss  him  for  official  delinquency. 

Section  IV. 
Official  Meetings  for  Stations. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of  the  official 
meeting  ? 

.47*5.  1.  All  the  projjerly  recognized  members 
of  the  quarterly  conference. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  be  the  presi- 
dent of  the  meeting  ;  and  in  his  absence  one  of 
the  members  shall  be  elected  president  pro  te  n. 

Qiies.  2.  What  is  the  business  of  the  official 
meeting? 

Ans.  1.  The  president  shall  call  the  meeting 
to  order,  and  begin  and  conclude  with  praver. 


30  DISCIPIiINE« 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary,  who  shall  make  a 
record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting. 

3.  To  elect  a  treasurer,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  receive  all  moneys  from  stewards  that  have 
been  collected,  and  receipt  therefor;  and  said 
treasurer  shall  pay  out  all  moneys  in  his  hands 
as  the  official  meeting  may  direct. 

4.  To  receive  a  statement  from  each  class- 
leader  in  reference  to  the  prosperity  of  religion 
in  his  class. 

5.  This  body  shall  meet  once  a  month,  and 
may  meet  of  tener  if  circumstances  require. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official  meeting 
t-o  receive  all  reports  of  subscriptions,  and  mon- 
eys collected  and  disbursed  for  the  interest  of 
the  station  ;  and  all  persons  intrusted  with  sub- 
scriptions or  moneys  shall  report  the  same  to  the 
meeting  as  soon  as  possible. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official  meeting  • 
to  submit  its  doings  to  the  quarterly  conference 
for  examination  and  approval. 

Section  V. 
Quarterly  Qonference. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of  the  quar- 
terly conference  ? 

Ans.  The  presiding  elder  of  the  district,  the 
preacher  in  charge,  and  all  the  properly  reoog- 


DISCIPLINE.  31 

nized  preachers,  exhorters,  leaaers,  stewards, 
and  trustees  of  meeting  and  parsonage  houses, 
and  superintendents  of  Sabbath-schools  (when 
said  trustees  and  superintendents  are  members 
of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ), 
who  reside  within  the  bounds  of  the  circuit,  sta- 
tion, or  mission,  or  hold  membership  therein. 

Ques.  2.  What  is  the  business  of  the  quarterly 
conference  ? 

Ans.  1.  In  the  absence  of  the  presiding  elder, 
the  quarterly  conference  shall  elect  a  chairman 
pro  tern.,  whose  oflScial  acta  shall  be  valid. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  keep  a  correct  record  of  all  their  proceedings 
in  a  book  provided  for  that  purpose,  in  which 
the  names  of  all  the  members  composing  the 
said  conference-  shall  be  entered. 

3-.  To  make  inquiry  into  the  moral  deportment 
and  official  character  of  all  its  members. 

4.  To  receive  and  try  all  appeals,  references, 
and  complaints  that  may  come  regularly  before 
it ;  but  no  member  of  quarterly  conference  can 
be  suspended  or  expelled  from  the  Church  prior 
to  a  committee  trial.  When  a  quarterly-confer- 
ence preacher  or  exhorter  is  accused  of  any  mis- 
demeanor, he  shall  be  tried  by  a  committee  of 
three,  of  which  the  accused  shall  choose  one  and 
the  quarterly  conference  a  second,  and  these  two 


32  DISCIPLINE. 

a  third,  to  try  the  case.  If  the  accused  refuse  or 
neglect  to  choose  his  committee-man  after  being 
properly  notified,  the  Quarterly  conference  shall 
choose  a  first  and  second  person,  and  these  two 
a  third,  who  shalLhear  the  case  and  decide  ;  and 
if  the  accused  is  found  guilty  he  shall  be  silenc- 
ed; provided,  however,  either  party  shall  have 
he  right  of  appeal  to  the  next  quarterly  confer- 
ence for  a  new  trial. 

5.  To  grant  license  to  exhort  or  preach  to 
such  as  may  have  been  recommended  by  at  least 
two  thirds  of  the  class  of  which  they  are  mem- 
bers ;  provided,  however,  that  none  shall  receive 
license  who  can  not  give  satisfactory  evidence  of 
their  call,  experience,  soundness  in  doctrine, 
and  attachment  to  our  church  and  government. 
AH  applicants  for  quarterly-conference  license 
to  preach  shall  be  examined  by  quarterly  confer- 
ence according  to  Section  II.,  Chapter  VI.,  of 
Discipline. 

6.  To  make  settlement  with  the  stewards  and 
traveling  preachers. 

7.  To  enforce  discipline  in  all  the  classes  under 
its  jurisdiction  ;  but  in  no  case  to  disorganize  a 
class  unless  the  preliniinaiy  steps  have  been 
taken  as  required  in  Section  I.,  Chapter  V.,  of 
Discipline. 

8.  To  renew    the    license    of  exhorters   and 


DISCIPIilNE.  33 

quarterly-conference  licensed  preachers,  annual- 
ly, if  they  be  found  worthy,  and  to  arrange  a 
plan  for  the  local  preachers  to  preach  regularly 
at  stated  places,  as  the  quarterly  conference  may 
direct. 

9.  After  such  licentiate  preachers  have  stood 
in  that  capacity  one  or  more  years,  the  quarterly 
conference  may  recommend  them  to  the  annual 
conference. 

10.  All  preachers  recommended  to  the  annual 
conference,  and  not  received,  may  sustain  their 
former  relation. 

11.  The  quarterly  conference,  at  its  last  ses- 
sion in  each  year,  shall  appoint  a  steward  for  the 
charge,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  assist  the  class- 
stewards  to  secure  the  preacher's  salary ;  also, 
an  estimating  committee  for  the  ensuing  year, 
which  committee  shall  meet  at  the  time  and 
place  specified  by  the  preacher  appointed  to  the 
charge  for  the  ensuing  year,  and  make  out  an 
estimate  of  the  regular  expenses  of  the  circuit, 
station,  or  mission,  and  apportion  the  same 
among  the  different  appointments  according  to 
their  several  abilities,  reporting  the  same  to  the 
quarterly  conference  for  ratification. 

Each  class,  after  receiving  its  apportionment, 
shall  as  soon  as  convenient,  on  the  call  of  the 
leader  or  steward,  hold  a  meeting  and  appoint  a 
3 


M  DISCIPLINE. 

committee  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  make  a  div- 
idend of  the  apportionment  to  each  member 
thereof  according  to  his  or  her  ability,  to  be 
paid  quarterly  or  monthly  ;  provided,  however, 
that  it  shall  be  the  privilege  of  any  class  to  col- 
lect the  amount  apportioned  to  it  by  subscrip- 
tion or  otherwise. 

Qiies.  3.  How  are  preachers  from  other  socie- 
ties received  ? 

Atis.  If  they  come  to  us  with  certificates  of 
good  standing  in  the  society  in  which  they  have 
had  membership,  and  give  satisfaction  to  the- 
quarterly  conference  on  examination  on  the  doc- 
trine, discipline,  government,  and  usages  of  our 
church,  then  the  quarterly  conference  may  li- 
C5ense  them,  with  the  understanding  that  the 
quarterly  conference  relation  continue  for  at 
least  one  year,  (provided,  that  an  elder,  ordained 
by  the  laying  on  of  hands,  coming  to  us  shall  be 
allowed  to  perform  the  functions  of  an  elder 
during  his  probation,)  after  which,  if  their  con- 
duct and  doctrine  be  in  accordance  with  the  gos- 
pel of  Christ,  they  may  be  received  into  the  an- 
nual conference  as  preachers,  or  elders,  as  the 
case  may  be. 

Ques.  4.  What  directions  are  necessary  in  case 
of  appeals? 

Ans.    Any  exhorter  or  preacher,  dissatisfied 


DISCIPLINE.  35 

with  the  decision  of  a  quarterly  conference,  shall 
within  thirty  days  after  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence, notify  the  secretary,  in  writing,  of  his  'in- 
tention to  appeal,  together  with  his  reasons  for 
so  doing ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secre- 
tary to  take  or  send  a  certified  copy  of  the  pro- 
ceedings, the  notification,  and  reasons  assigned, 
to  the  annual  conference. 

In  all  cases  of  appeal,  whether  to  the  quarterly', 
annual,  or  General  Conference,  the  course  laid 
down  in  this  section  on  appeals  is  the  proper 
course  to  be  pursued. 

Ques.  5.  Where  shall  our  next  quarterly  con- 
ference be  held  ? 

Qiies.  6.     Is  there  an^^thing  more  to  be  done  ? 

Ail  exhorters,  and  quai'terly  and  annual  con- 
ference preachers  are  required  to  join  some  con- 
venient class,  and  upon  neglect  or  refusal  to  do 
so  shall  lose  their  official  relation. 

It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  quarterly  con- 
ference to  open  and  close  with  prayer. 

Section  VI. 
Annual  Qonfcrence. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of  this  con- 
ference ? 

Ans.  All  the  elders  and  licentiate  preachers 
who  have  been  duly  received  by  the  conference; 


36  DiscnpLT:NE. 

provided,  first:  That  any  annual  conference 
may  receive  into  its  body  one  layman  from 
every  charge  in  its  bounds  whenever  two  thirds 
of  its  members  shall,  in  a  regular  annual  ses- 
sion, decide  so  to  do,  notice  of  such  vote  to  be 
given  twenty-four  houi-s  before  the  time.  Sec- 
ond :  When  an  annual  conference  has  adopted 
\'d.y  representation,  it  shall  provide  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  such  lay  representatives  by  su^ch 
methods  as  in  its  wisdom  it  may  deem  best. 
Third :  The  laymen  thus  chosen  shall  have  all 
the  privileges  and  rights  of  ministers  in  the  an- 
nual conference,  except  the  right  to  vote  for  the 
reception  or  expulsion  of  preachers,  the  passing 
of  preachers  in  the  course  of  reading,  and  the 
right  to  vote  for  presiding  elders. 

Ques,  2.  In  what  manner  are  the  transaetiona 
of  a  conference  to  be  conducted? 

Ans.  1.  A  portion  of  scripture  shall  be  read  ; 
also,  singing  and  prayer  each  day, at  the  opening 
and  closing  of  conference. 

2.  The  conference  shall  elect  two  secretaries, 
one  German  and  one  English,  wherever  it  may 
be  necessary,  one  of  whom  shall  immediately  on 
the  adjournment  of  the  annual  conference  trans- 
mit to  the  publishing  agent  at  Dayioii,  Ohio,  a: 
true  transcript  of  the  footings  of  the  conference 
chart.    If  no  bishop  should  be  present,  it  shall  b» 


DISCIPLINE,  87 

the  duty  of  the  annual  conference  to  elect  a 
bishop  pro  tern.,  whose  official  acts  shall  be  valid. 

3.  The  preachers  shall  be  examined  respect- 
ing their  deportment  toward  their  fellow-beings, 
whether  their  conduct  in  life  be  blameless,  and 
whether  they  employ  as  much  time  as  practica- 
ble to  promote  the  kingdom  of  God,  (according 
to  Titus,  1st  chapter,  7th  to  9th  verse,  and  II. 
Tim.,  2d  chapter,  I5th  verse,)  and  if  found  de- 
linquent shall  be  admonished  or  advised,  as  the 
case  may  require.  But  should  all  admonition 
or  advice  fail,  then  the  name  of  the  delinquent 
person  shall  be  erased  from  the  minutes  of  the 
conference. 

4.  Should  any  member  of  the  annual  confer- 
ence absent  himself  from  the  session  of  confer- 
ence three  years  in  succession,  without  giving  a 
satisfactory  reason  for  so  doing,  his  name  may 
be  erased  from  the  minutes  of  the  conference. 

5.  No  preacher  shall  be  permitted  to  election- 
eer favorably  to  his  own  election  to  any  office  or 
delegation  in  the  Church;  and  should  any  one 
be  found  doing  so,  he  shall  be  accountable  to  tlte 
next  annual  conference  of  which  he  is  a  mem- 
ber, to  be  dealt  with  according  to  the  judgment 
of  said  conference. 

The  following  questions  shall  also  be  asked: 
1.     Have  any  of  the  preachers  died  during  the 
last  year  ? 


38  DISCIPLINE. 

2.  Wlio  are  candidates  for  the  ministry? 

3.  Are  any  to  be  ordained  to  the  office  of 
elder? 

4.  What  has  been  collected  foe  contingent  ex- 
penses and  the  salary  of  traveling  preachers  ? 

5.  What  has  been  done  for  missions  ? 

t).    What  has  been  done  for  Sabbath-schools  ? 

7.  Has  reckoning  been  made  with  the  travel- 
ing preachers  ? 

8.  Who  are  the  presiding  elders? 

9.  Where  are  the  preachers  stationed  this 
year  ? 

10.  Where  shall  our  next  conference  be  held  ? 

11.  Is  there  anything  else  to  be  done  ? 

12.  Is  all  that  has  been  done  entered  uix>n 
record  ? 

Section  VII. 

General  Conference. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of  the  General 
Conference?    {See  Constitution.) 

Ques.  2,  What  shall  be  the  number  of  dele- 
gates to  the  General  Conlerence  ? 

A71S.  Not  less  than  two  nor  more  tlian  four 
from  each  annual-conference  district.  xVil  con- 
lerences  having  less  than  three  tliousand  mem- 
bei's  shall  be  entitled  to  two  delegates.  All  con- 
ferences having  three  thousand  and  under  five 
thousand  members  shall   be  entitled    to  three 


DISCIPLLNE.  39 

delegates.  All  conferences  having  six  thousand 
five  hundred  members  and  over  that  number, 
shall  be  entitled  to  four  delegates. 

The  Board  of  Bishops  shall  a^  early  as  possible 
announce  the  number  of  delegates  to  which  each 
conference  shall  be  entitled,  as  appears  from  the 
statistics  of  the  annual  conferences  at  the  end 
of  the  third  year  of  the  term. 

Ques.  3.    How  are  they  to  be  elected  ? 

Atis.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  annual 
conference  to  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to 
receive  and  count  the  votes,  and  immediately 
apprise  those  who  may  have  been  elected ;  also 
to  furnish  each  preacher  in  charge  with  a  Ust  of 
the  names  of  all  the  elders  eligible. 

2.  The  leader  and  steward  of  each  class  shall 
constitute  a  board  of  election,  who  shall  be  fur- 
nished a  copy  of  the  above-named  list,  by  the 
preacher  in  charge,  at  least  ten  months  before 
the  sitting  of  the  General  Conference ;  and  the 
election  shall  be  held  invariably  in  the  month  of 
November  next  preceding  the  sitting  of  said 
conference. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  '•"'^'"'  i.oard  of  elec- 
tion to  appoint  a  meeting 

their  respective  classes  or  < 
may  be,  for  the  purpose  o 
their  delegates  to  represer 
Conference. 


40  DISCIPLINE, 

Should  any  member  be  incapacitated  by  age  or 
aflaiction  to  attend  such  meetings,  and  should 
any  minister  be  absent  on  his  charge,  they  may 
send  their  ballots  containing  the  names  of  their 
choice,  and  their  own  names  signed  on  the  back 
of  their  ballots;  provided,  no  votes  shall  be 
counted  except  those  cast  at  the  appointed  meet- 
ings. 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  board  of  eleo- 
tion  invariably  to  sign,  inclose,  and  seal  each  bill 
of  election,  and  keep  a  correct  record  of  the 
same,  also  of  all  membei-s  voting,  and  immedi- 
ately transmit  a  copy  of  such  bill,  stating  what 
class,  circuit,  mission,  or  station,  to  the  commit- 
tee appointed  by  the  annual  conference. 

6.  Said  committee  shall  make  out  a  list  of  all 
the  persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number  of 
votes  for  each.  And  should  any  two  or  more  of 
the  candidates  have  an  equal  number  of  votes, 
the  committee  shall  determine,  by  lot,  which  of 
them  is  elected.  They  shall  also  forward  by  the 
first  of  February,  the  names  of  tliose  elected  to 
the  conference  Printing  Establishment  for  pub- 
lication ;  and  if  one  or  more  of  those  elected 
should  be  prevented,  by  death,  sickness,  or  oth- 
erwise, from  attending,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  tellers  to  notify  the  next  highest  on  the  bill 
to  take  his  place ;  and  so  descend,  if  need  be,  to 
the  last  candidate.    All  bills  of  election  received 


DISCIPLINE.  4i 

by  the  tellers  after  the  fii-st  of  January  shall  not 
be  counted. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  presiding  elder 
to  furnish  each  preacher  in  charge  on  his  district 
with  blank  bills  of  election,  the  .same  to  be  dis- 
tributed by  said  preachers  to  their  respective 
boards  of  election. 

Ques.  4.  How  shall  the  expenses  of  the  dele- 
gates to  the  General  Conference  be  defrayed? 
J  Ans.  The  annual  conference  next  preceding 
the  election  of  delegates  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence shall  ascertain  the  amount  of  money  that 
will  be  necessaiy  to  defray  the  expenses  of  its 
delegates  to  General  Conference,  and  apportion 
the  same  among  its  diflferent  fields  of  labor ;  and 
the  preacher  in  charge  shall  collect  and  forwaM 
Buch  amount  to  the  presiding  elder  of  his  di»- 
trict,  who  shall  transmit  such  amount  to  the 
tellers  by  the  first  of  Februai-y  preceding  the 
General  Conference.  Should  any  preacher  neg- 
lect his  duty,  he  shall  be  accountable  therefor 
to  the  next  annual  conference. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  General  Conference 
to  examine  the  administration  of  each  annual 
oonference,  whether  it  has  strictly  observed  the 
rules,  and  preserved  the  vioral  and  doctriiuU 
principles  of  the  Discipline  in  all  its  transao- 
tions. 

In  the  election  of  all  officers  of  the  General 


42  DISCIPLINE, 

CJonference,  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  shall  be 
necessary  to  a  choice. 


CHAPTER    VI.— MINISTRY    OF    THE 
CHURCH. 

Section  I. 

Exhorters. 

Ques.    How  are  exhorters  received  ? 

Ans.  Any  person  wishing  to  obtain  license  to 
exhort  must  obtain  from  the  class  of  which  he  is 
a  member,  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  mem- 
bers, a  recommendation  in  writing,  signed  by 
the  leader,  or  preacher  in  charge,  to  the  quarter- 
ly conference  of  the  circuit,  station,  or  mission 
to  which  he  belongs. 

Ques.    What  are  the  duties  of  exhorters  ? 

Ans.  To  make  appointments  wherever  ae- 
oeptable  to  the  people;  read  portions  of  sacred 
scripture,  exhorting  therefrom ;  exhorting  saints, 
that  they  with  purpose  of  heart  should  cleave  to 
the  Lord,  and  sinners  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come ;  and  this  they  shall  do  as  often  as  practi- 
cable. 

The  license  of  an  exhorter  is  subject  to  renew- 
al annually,  at  the  discretion  of  the  quarterly 
oonference. 


'\  DISCIPLINE.  ^ 

Section  II. 

Quarterly-  Conference  Jhreaehers. 

Ques.  How  are  quarterly-conference  preach- 
ers received  ? 

Ans.  Any  person  wishing  to  obtain  license  to 
preach  must  obtain  from  the  class  of  whicii  he  is 
a  member,  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  mem- 
bers, a  recommendation  in  writing,  signed  by 
the  leader  or  preacher,  to  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence of  the  circuit,  station,  or  mission  to  which 
he  belongs ;  provided,  That  the  person  making 
application  sliall  be  examined  by  the  quarterly 
conference,  and  the  following  questions  asked 
by  the  chairman : 

1.  Do  you  believe  in  our  confession  of  faith 
as  taught  in  our  book  of  Discipline  ? 

2.  Have  you  now  peace  with  God  through  our 
Lord  Jesus'  Christ  ? 

3.  What  is  your  motive  in  desiring  permis- 
sion to  preach  the  go-pel  ? 

4.  Are  you  satisfied  with  our  church-govern- 
ment ? 

5.  Will  you  submit  yourself  to  the  counsel  of 
your  brethren  ? 

6.  What  is  your  knowledge  of  depravity,  of 
redemption,  of  faith,  of  repentance,  of  justifica- 
tion, and  of  sanctification  ? 


44  DISCIPIilNE. 

It  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  chairman  to 
ask  any  other  question  or  questions  that  he  may 
deem  necessary. 

Quarterly -conference  licensed  preachei-s  are 
required  to  pursue  the  course  of  reading  pre- 
scribed in  our  book  of  Discipline,  and  to  be  ex- 
amined^ annually  by  the  presiding  elder  and 
preacher  in  charge  at  the  fourth  quarterly  meet- 
ing- . 

The  license  of  a  quarterly-conference  preacher 
is  subject  to  renewal  annually,  at  the  discretion 
of  the  quarterly  conference. 

Aflber  such  licentiate  preachers  have  stood  in 
that  capacity  one  or  more  years,  the  quarterly 
conference  may  recommend  them  to  the  annual 
conference. 

All  preachers  recommended  to  tlie  annual  oon- 
oonference,  and  not  received,  may  sustain  their 
former  relation. 

Section  III. 

Annual- Conference  Preachers, 

Qites.    How  are  preachers  received  ? 

Ans.  Every  person  proposed  as  a  preacher 
shall  be  examined  by  the  annual  conference  or  a 
select  committee  thereof;  and  the  following 
questions  shall  be  asked  him : 

1.  Have  you  known  God  in  Christ  Jesus  to  be 
a  sin-pardoning  God  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  45 

2.  Have  you  now  peace  with  God ;  and  is  the 
love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  your  heart  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  ? 

3.  Do  you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of 
God,  and  that  therein  is  contained  the  only  true 
way  to  onr  salvation  ? 

4.  What  foundation  have  you  for  ffuch  be- 
lief? 

5.  Do  you  follow  after  holiness  ? 

6.  What  is  your  motive  for  desiring  permis- 
sion to  preach  the  gospel  ? 

7.  Do  you  believe  that  man,  apart  from  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  fallen  from 
original  righteousness,  and  is  not  only  entirely 
destitute  of  holiness,  but  is  inclined  to  evil,  and 
only  evil,  and  that  continually  ;  and  that  except 
a  man  b8  born  again  he  can  not  see  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  ? 

8.  What  is  your  knowledge  of  redemption, 
of  faith,  of  repentance,  justification,  and  sanc- 
i-ification? 

9.  Does  your  own  salvation,  and  the  salvation 
of  your  fellow-mortals,  lie  nearer  to  your  heart 
than  all  other  things  in  the  world? 

10.  Will  you  subject  yourself  to  the  counsel 
of  your  brethren  ? 

11.  Are  you  satisfied  with  our  church-govern- 
ment? 

12.  Are  you  willing,  as  much  as  is  in  your 


46  DISCIPLINE. 

power,  to  assist  in  upholding  the  itinerant  plan  ? 

None  can  be  admitted  without  having  a  recom- 
mendation from  the  quarterly  conference,  and 
then  only  to  be  received  on  probation  ;  but  if 
conference  should,  on  examination,  find  that  his 
abilities  are  insufficient  to  preach  the  gospel,  it 
may  refer  him  back  to  the  quarterly  conference, 
for  further  instruction. 

"When  a  preacher  or  elder  has  been  expelled  or 
formally  withdraws  from  one  annual  conference, 
he  shall  not  be  received  into  another  without  the 
consent  of  the  conference  from  which  he  has 
been  expelled. 

A  preacher  or  elder  who  shall  labor  in  the 
bounds  of  an  annual  conference,  other  than  the 
one  to  which  he  belongs,  for  two  years,  shall  be 
required  to  obtain  a  transfer  from  the  conference 
to  which  he  belongs  and  unite  with  the  confer- 
ence in  whose  bounds  he  labors,  or  to  return  to 
his  own  conference  for  work ;  provided,  that 
presidents  and  professors  of  schools  and  colleges, 
and  others  engaged  in  general  church-work, 
shall  be  exempt  from  this  requirement. 

A  preacher  removing  from  one  conference  to 
another  shall,  when  he  applies  to  another  for 
admission,  produce  a  transfer  from  the  confer- 
ence to  which  he  formerly  belonged,  signed  by 
the  presiding  officer,  or  published  in  the  minutes 


1>ISCIPLINE.  47 

of  the  conference  from  which  he  has  been  trans- 
ferred. 

A  preacher  or  elder  who  receives  a  transfer  is 
required  to  present  said  transfer  to  anotlier  con- 
ference, or  return  it  to  the  conference  by  which 
it  was  issued,  within  eighteen  months  after  its 
date.  Otherwise  the  transfer  shall  be  null  and 
void,  and  the  name  of  the  preacher  shall  be 
published  as  no  longer  connected  with  tl>e 
Church  as  a  minister;  provided,  Preachers  tak- 
ing transfers  to  the  Pacific  coast  shall  be  al- 
lowed two  years  in  which  to  present  their 
transfers. 

A  preacher  or  elder  receiving  a  transfer  shall 
be  a  member  of  the  quarterly  conference  in 
whose  bounds  he  may  reside,  and  also  be  ac- 
countable for  his  moral  and  official  conduct  to 
the  annual  conference  granting  said  transfer, 
until  his  transfer  be  received  by  the  conference 
to  which  he  has  been  transferred. 

Section  IV. 
Reception  of  Preachers  from  Other  Churche^i. 

Qiies.  How  are  preachers  from  other  societies 
received  ? 

Ans.  If  they  come  to  us  with  certificates  of 
good  standing  in  the  society  in  which  they  have 
had  membership,  and  give  satisfaction  to  the 


48  DISCIPLINE. 

quarterly  oonlerence  on  examination  on  the 
doctrine,  discipline,  government,  and  usages  of 
our  church,  then  the  quarterly  conference  may 
license  them,  with  the  understanding  that  the 
quarterly-conference  relation  continue  for  at 
least  one  year  (provided,  that  an  elder,  ordained 
by  the  laying  on  of  hands,  coming  to  us  shall  be 
allowed  to  perform  the  functions  of  an  elder 
during  his  probation),  after  which,  if  their  con- 
duct and  doctrine  be  in  accordance  with  the 
gospel  of  Christ,  they  may  be  received  into  the 
annual  conference  as  preachers  or  elders,  as  the 
case  may  be. 

All  ordained  elders  of  other  denominations 
who  may  join  our  church  as  such  must  pass  tlie 
examination  required  of  candidates  for  elders' 
orders  given  in  the  following  section ;  but  they 
may  be  exempt  from  the  laying  on  of  hands. 

Section  V. 
Election  of  Elders,. 

Ques.    How  is  an  elder  constituted  ? 

Ans.  After  a  probation  of  three  years,  a 
preacher  may  be  pi-esented  to  the  annual  confer- 
ence; whereupon  the  bishop  shall  propose  to 
conference  the  following  questions  : 

Ques.  1.  Is  he  blameless  touching  the  mar- 
riage state? 


DISCIPLINE.  40 

2.  Is  his  deportment  in  the  social  circle  mark- 
ed with  watchful  sobriety? 

3.  Is  he  hospitable  toward  the  afflicted  and 
need  3'-  ? 

4.  Is  he  faithful  in  the  public  ministration  of 
God's  word,  and  diligent  in  reading  and  study  ? 

5.  Is  his  household  subject  to  rules  of   piety  ? 
Should  the  above  questions  be  answered  in  the 

affirmative,  a  committee  of  three  or  five  elders 
shall  be  appointed,  before  whom  the  candidates 
shall  appear,  and  answer  to  the  following  ques- 
tions, namely : 

Ques.  1.    Upon  what  foundation  do  you  be- 
lieve the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God  ? 

2.  How  do  you  prove  the  fall  of  man  by  trana- 
gression  ? 

3.  How  do  you  prove  the  redemption  of  man 
by  Jesus  Christ  ? 

4.  Do  you  believe  in  the  godhead  of  Jesas 
Christ? 

5.  What  foundation  have  you  for  such  a  be- 
lief? 

6.  Do  you  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost  as  pre- 
sented in  our  confession  of  faith  ? 

7.  Upon  what  evidence  do  you  believe  this  ? 

8.  Do  you  believe  in  future  everlasting  pun- 
ishment ? 

It  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  committee^  in 
4 


fiO  DISCIPLINE. 

the  close,  to  propose  any  question  touching  the 
answers  given,  wherein  their  understanding 
may  not  have  been  distinct.  It  shall  also  be  their 
duty  to  make  out,  sign,  and  deliver  to  confer- 
ence a  report  of  each  case  which  may  have  been 
before  them.  Whereupon,  by  a  majority  of  the 
votes  of  the  elders  of  conference,  said  candidates 
may  be  elected  to  ordination.  All  ordained  eld- 
ers of  other  denominations,  who  may  join  our 
church  as  such,  must  pass  the  above  examina- 
tion ;  but  they  may  be  exempt  from  the  laying 
on  off  hands ;  yet,  circumstances  demanding  it, 
a  licentiate  may  be  presented  to  conference  for 
ordination  at  any  time  prior  to  a  probation  of 
three  years,  provided  two  thirds  of  the  elders 
present  vote  for  the  same. 

Section  VI. 
Ordination  of  Elders. 

1.  On  the  day  appointed  there  shall  be  a  suit- 
able sermon  delivered. 

2.  After  their  names  have  been  read  aloud, 
the  bishop  or  elder  shall  read  the  following 
articles  to  all  who  may  be  chosen  for  ordination  : 

An  elder  "  must  be  blameless,  as  the  steward 
of  God;  not  self-willed,  not  soon  angry,  not 
given  to  wine,  no  striker,  not  given  to  filthy 
lucre  ;  but  a  lover  of  hospitality,  a  lover  of  good 


DISCIPLINE.  51 

men,  sober,  just,  holy,  temperate  ;  holding  fast 
the  faithful  word  as  he  hath  been  taught,  that  he 
may  be  able  by  sound  doctrine  both  to  exhort 
and  convince  the  gainsayers."      (Titus  i.  7-0.) 

Qites.  Are  you  assured  that  you  are  inwardly 
moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  take  upon  yon  the 
office  of  the  ministry,  to  serve  God  in  the  church 
of  Christ  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  his  holy 
name  ?    If  so,  nnswer,  I  trust  I  am. 

Qiies.  Do  you  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
Old  and  New  Testament  ?  If  so,  answer,  I  do 
believe  them. 

Qiies.  Will  you  apply  due  diligence  to  frame 
and  fashion  your  life  according  to  the  doctrines 
of  Christ,  and  to  make  yourself,  as  much  as  in 
you  lieth,  a  wholesome  example  of  the  flock  of 
Christ?  If  so,  answer,  I  will,  the  Lord  being 
my  helper. 

Ques.  Will  you  obey  them  to  whom  the 
charge  and  government  over  you  is  committed, 
and  follow  their  godly  admonitions  with  a  will- 
ing and  ready  mind?  If  so,  answer,  I  will  en- 
deavor, through  the  grace  of  God,  to  do  so. 

Then  prayer  is  to  be  offered. 

After  prayer,  the  bishop  and  elders  shall  lay 
their  hands  upon  the  head  of  every  one  of  them, 
and  say : 

Take  thou  authority  to  execute  the  office  of  an 


52  DISCIPLINE 

elder  in  the  church  of  God,  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
Amen. 

[Hereupon  the  bishop  or  elder  shall  deliver  to 
every  one  of  them  the  Holy  Bible,  sajang  :] 

Take  thon  authority  to  preach  the  word  of 
God,  and  administer  the  ordinances  in  the  church 
ot'  Christ. 

[Then  the  bishop  or  elder  sliall  pra3^  And 
after  prayer  he  shall  read  from  Luke  xii.  35  38 :] 
•'  Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and  your  lights 
burning;  and  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men  that 
wait  for  their  lord,  when  he  will  return  from  the 
wedding;  that,  when  he  cometli  and  knocketh, 
tliey  may  open  unto  him  immediately.  Blessed 
are  those  servants,  whom  the  lord  when  he  com- 
eth  shall  tind  watching;  verily  I  say  unto  you, 
that  he  shall  gird  himself,  and  make  them  to  sit 
down  to  meat,  and  Will  come  forth  and  serve  them. 
And  if  lie  shall  come  in  the  second  watch,  or 
come  in  the  third  watch,  and  find  them  so, 
blessed  are  those  servants."  [After  this  the  fol- 
lowing benediction  is  to  be  pronounced  :  ] 

The  peace  oj  Ood  keep  your  hearts  and  minds  in 
the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 


■  i 


DISCIPLINE.  53 

Section  VII. 

Duties  of  Elders. 

It  is  the  duty  of  au  elder  to  preach  as  often  as 
he  can  ;  to  baptize,  to  administer  the  Lord's  sup- 
I>er,  solemnize  marriages,  to  perform  all  parts  of 
divine  service,  to  be  an  example  to  the  flocik  of 
Christ  by  imitating  his  moral  example  ;  and  in 
a  very  special  manner  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  an 
elder  to  cherish  and  encourage  young  ministers, 
and  always  to  be  looking  for  those  whom  God 
has  called  to  preach,  and  advise  them  to  take  up 
the  cross,  and  begin  the  work  without  delay, 
that  the  labor  of  this  gospel  harvest  may  be 
faithfully  performed. 

Section  VIII. 

Presiding  Eiders  and  their  Duties. 

Ques.  1.  How  shall  the  presiding  elders  be 
elected  ? 

Ans.  The  annual  conference  shall  elect  them 
by  ballot.  A  majority  of  the  w^hole  number  of 
votes  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice, 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  done  for  the  support 
of  the  presiding  elders  ? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  annual  con- 
ference to  make  sucii  regulations  for  the  support 
of  the  presiding  elders  as  they  in  their  wisdom 
may  think  best  calculated  to  accomplish  the  de- 
sired end. 


54  DISCIPLINE. 

Ques.  3.    How  shall  they  be  stationed? 

Ans.  By  the  bishop  and  two  elders  or  preach- 
ers from  each  presiding-elder  district. 

Ques.  4.  What  are  the  duties  of  a  presiding 
elder  ? 

Ans.  1.  To  travel  through  the  district  ap- 
pointed him,  and  to  preach  as  often  as  is  prac- 
ticable. 

2.  He  shall  appoint  the  quarterly  and  camp 
meetings,  and  attend  them.  He  shall  hold 
quarterly  conferences,  and  administer  the  ordi- 
nances of  God's  house.  He  shall  inquire  wheth- 
er the  preachers  do  their  duty,  and  exhort  them 
to  maintain  discipline  and  order,  love  and  seri- 
ousness in  the  society.  He  may  also  call  extra 
quarterly  conferences  by  the  consent  of  a  ma- 
jority of  the  quarterly-conference  members. 

3.  It  siiall  be  his  duty  to  make  strict  inquiry 
if  each  itinerant  minister  has  received  the 
amount  of  salary  due  him,  and  in  case  of  a  de- 
ficiency to  make  an  earnest  effort  to  secure  the 
balance  due  him. 

4.  He  may  also,  in  conjunction  with  two  eld- 
ers, preachers,  exhorters,  or  leaders  (one  from 
each  circuit),  change  the  preachers  in  his  dis- 
trict. 

5.  Each  presiding  elder  shall  give  a  report  in 
writing,  of  his  district,  annually,  to  the  annual 
conlbrence. 


c^^,  &. 


DISCIPLINE.  55 

6.  Should  any  district  happen  to  be  without 
a  presiding  elder,  information  shall  be  immedi- 
ately given  to  a  bishop,  who  shall  appoint  an 
elder  to  preside  in  said  district  until  the  ensuing 
annual  conference. 

Section  IX. 
Bishops — Election  and  Duties. 

Ques.    How  are  the  bishops  to  be  elected  ? 

Ans.  The  General  Conference  shall  elect 
them,  for  the  term  of  four  years,  by  a  majority 
of  the  whole  number  of  votes,  to  be,  at  the  op- 
tion of  conference,  re-elected.  The  bishops  must 
be  capable  of  attending  the  conferences  appoint- 
ed them  ;  otherwise  they  can  not  be  elected. 

Ques.  How  shall  the  bishops'  fields  of  labor 
be  assigned  them? 

Atis.  By  the  General  Conference  ;  and  in  the 
fields  thus  assigned  them  they  shall  devote  their 
whole  time.  They  shall  be  required  to  reside 
within  the  bounds  of  the  district  assigned  them, 
if  practicable  ;  provided,  however,  that  they  shall 
have  the  privilege  of  making  such  temporary 
interchanges  as  the  welfare  of  their  districts 
may  demand. 

Q:iies.  How  shall  the  salaries  of  the  bishops 
be  secured  ? 

Ans.  1.    The  General  Conference,  after  fixing 


^ 


66  DISCIPLINE. 

the  salaries  of  the  bishops,  shall  by  a  committee, 
consisting  of  the  chairman  of  each  annual-con- 
ference delegation,  in  conjunction  with  the 
bishop  of  the  district,  assess  said  salary,  together 
with  the  amount  necessary  for  moving  and 
traveling  expenses,  to  each  conference  within 
his  district  according  to  their  several  abilities. 

A71S.  2.  Kach  annual  conference  shall  appor- 
tion its  respective  part  of  the  salary  of  its  bish- 
op, annually,  to  the  several  fields  of  labor  in  its 
bounds,  according  to  the  ability  thereof. 

Ques.    What  are  the  duties  of  bishops  ? 

Atis.  1.  To  preside  over  the  annual  and  gen- 
eral conferences,  and  strictly  examine  into  the 
moral  and  official  character  of  the  members  of 
the  annual  conferences  in  the  bounds  of  their 
districts,  and  insist  upon  it  that  all  the  laws  of 
the  Church  are  faithfully  executed. 

2.  In  conjunction  with  the  presiding  elders 
of  the  past  and  present  year,  together  with  an 
equal  number  of  local  elders  or  preachers,  they 
may  fix  the  appointments  of  the  traveling 
preachers  for  the  several  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions  ;  provided,  That  they  do  not  allow  any 
itinerant  preacher  to  remain  on  the  same  station 
or  circuit  more  than  three  consecutive  years,  un- 
less particular  circumstances  require  it,  and  then 
anly  with  consent  of  the  conference. 


DISCIPLINE.  57 

3.  The  bishop,  in  conjunction  with  two  eldere, 
elected  by  ballot,  from  each  presiding-elder  dis- 
trict, shall  appoint  the  presiding  elders  to  their 
respective  districts. 

4.  It  shall  be  their  duty  to  perform  the  rite  of 
ordination  at  the  annual  conferences,  and  at 
»uch  other  times  and  places  as  circumstances 
may  require  it,  and  then  only  upon  such  persons 
as  have  passed  the  usual  examination  required 
of  candidates  for  ordination,  by  a  committee  of 
three  elders  chosen  for  that  purpose  by  one  of 
the  bishops. 

5.  The  bishops  shall  hold  annual  meetings, 
in  which  they  shall  determine  the  time  of  holding 
the  annual  conferences,  decide  questions  of  Dis- 
cipline, adopt  measures  to  secure  uniformity  in 
their  administration,  and,  when  circumstances 
demand  it,  appoint  fast  and  thanksgiving  sea- 
sons, and  counsel  upon  the  general  interests  of 
the  Church. 

6.  In  conjunction  with  the  Board  of  Missions, 
the  bishop  shall  have  power  to  organize  mission- 
conferences. 

7.  The  bishops  shall  devote  as  much  of  their 
time  as  possible,  consistent  with  their  other  du- 
ties, to  visiting  our  missions,  exploring  new 
fields,  and  working  upon  the  general  financial 
and  educational  interests  of  the  Chiirch. 


58  DISCIPLINE. 

8.  The  bishops  shall  publish  annually,  in  the 
columns  of  the  Reli^^-ious  Telescope  and  Froehliche 
Botschafter^  reports  of  their  respective  districts, 
and  also  the  amount  of  salary  received  from  the 
several  annual  conferences  in  their  charge. 

9.  When  a  bishop  fails  to  perform  his  duty, 
unless  through  unavoidable  circumstances,  he 
can  not  be  suffered  to  retair.  his  office. 

10.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  bishops  to  see 
that  a  suitable  sermon  be  delivered  to  the  preach- 
ers present  at  each  annual  conference. 

Should  any  district  become  destitute  of  a  bish- 
op by  death  or  otherwise,  the  senior  of  the  re- 
maining bishops,  on  due  notice  of  said  fact, 
shall  call  together  at  some  central  point  in  the 
vacated  district  the  delegates  of  the  preceding 
General  Conference  from  said  bishop's  district, 
who  shall  elect  a  bishop  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The 
expenses  of  said  delegates  shall  be  provided  for 
by  the  conferences  to  which  they  belong. 

Section  X. 

Pi'eadier'' fi  Ihities. 

Ques.    What  are  the  duties  of  preachers? 

Ans.  To  preach  Christ  crucified,  form  classes, 
and  report  the  same  to  the  annual  conferences; 
converse  with  the  monbers  on  the  spiritual  con- 
dition of  their  souls;  administer  relief ;  strength- 


DISCIPLINE.  59 

en  and  direct  those  that  are  afflicted  and  labor 
under  temptations ;  animate  the  indolent ;  en- 
deavor as  much  as  possible  to  edify  and  instruct 
all  in  faith,  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
Jesus  Christ;  visit  •  the  sick  on  all  occasions; 
strive  to  enforce  and  confirm  the  doctrine  they 
deliver  by  a  well-ordered  and  exemplary  life. 

Ques.  What  are  the  directions  given  to  oui 
preachers? 

Ans.  1.  Be  diligent.  Never  tritle  away  your 
time.  Always  be  serious.  Let  your  motto  be, 
"Holiness  Unto  the  Lord!"  Avoid  all 
lightness  and  jesting ;  converse  sparingly  ;  con- 
duct yourself  prudently  with  women ;  and  de- 
mean yourseW  in  all  respects  as  a  true  Christian. 
Be  at  all  times  averse  to  crediting  evil  reports  ; 
believe  evil  of  no  one  without  good  evidence. 
Put  the  best  construction  on  everything. 

2.  Speak  evil  of  no  one.  Whatever  may  be 
3'our  thoughts,  keep  thein  within  your  own 
breasts  until  you  can  tell  the  person  concerned 
what  you  tliink  wrong  in  his  conduct. 

3.  Let  your  business  be  to  save  as  many  souls 
as  possible.  To  this  empl<\yment  give  yourself 
up  wholly.  Visit  those  who  need  it ;  and  act  in 
all  things,  not  according  to  your  own  wills,  but 
as  sons  in  the  gospel ;  for  as  such  it  becomes 
your  duty  to  employ  your  time  in  the  manner 


60  DISCIPLINE. 

prescribed,  in  preaching,  and  visiting  from 
house  to  house;  in  instruction  and  pvajer,  and 
in  meditating  on  the  word  of  God.  With  these 
be  occupied  until  our  Lord  conieth. 

No  preacher  sliall  arbitrarily  form  a  circuit, 
mission,  or  station  within  the  limits  of  a  circuit 
or  presiding  elder's  district,  or  shall  receive  com- 
pensation for  labor  performed  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  preacher  in  charge,  nor  shall  any 
minister  preaching  in  a  different  language  accept 
a  call  from  any  regularly  orgauized  class  or  con- 
gregation which  does  not  belong  to  his  confer- 
ence, without  the  consent  of  the  annual  confer- 
ence to  which  the  charge  making  the  request 
may  belong.  Any  preacher  violating  the  pro- 
visions of  this  section  shall  be  amenable  to  his 
quarterly  or  annual  conference. 

Section  XI. 
Itinerant  Preachers'  Duties. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  an  itinerant 
preacher  ? 

Ans.  1.  To  take  the  charge  assigned  him  will- 
ingly, and  move  to  it  if  practicable. 

2.  To  attend  the  appointments  on  his  circuit 
regularly,  preach  to  the  people  and  hold  class- 
meetings. 

3.  To    hold   a   society-meeting    at  least   on« 


DISCIPLINE.  61 

month  previous  to  annual  conference,  and  revise 
the  church-book.  He  shall  make  inquiry  into 
the  moral  standing  of  each  member;  and  in  no 
case  shall  he  dispose  of  a  member  without  the 
consent  of  the  class  or  church,  except  in  cases  ot 
special  law  requiring  the  erasure  of  tlie  name  of 
an  offending  member ;  and  he  shall  render  a 
true  report  of  his  membersliip  to  the  annual 
conference.  At  the  said  meeting  he  sliall  also 
see  that  a  class-leader  and  steward  are  elected. 

4.  To  read  the  following  four  sections  of  our 
Discipline  every  six  months,  in  each  regular 
congregation;  namel}'.  The  Co7)fessio7i  of  Faith, 
Reception  and  Duties  of  Members,  Ardent  Spirits, 
and  Secret  Societies. 

5.  To  sit  as  president  on  the  trial  of  members 
and  see  that  a  correct  account  of  the  same  is 
kept. 

6.  To  render  a  strict  account  in  writing  of  the 
cojidition  of  his  circuit  to  each  quarterh'  confer- 
enci:-,  where  he  is  to  be  held  accountable  for  the 
neglect  of  any  regular  appointment  on  his 
circuit.  He  shall  also  report  the  number  of  ap- 
pointments, pastoral  visits,  and  any  change  that 
may  have  taken  place  in  the  membership  of  his 
charge. 

7.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  use  every  laudanle 
effort  to  circulate  our  books  and  church-periodi- 


62  DISCIPLINE. 

cals,  and  to  use  due  diligence  to  advance  the 
interests  of  the  conference  Printing  Establish- 
ment. 

8.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  keep  a  list  of  tlie 
names  of  all  the  subscribers  to  our  church-peri- 
odicals, and  the  time  of  subscribing,  at  the  dif- 
ferent appointments  on  his  circuit,  and  hand  it 
over  to  his  successor  at  the  annual  conference, 
with  the  list  of  the  appointments.  He  shall  also 
report  the  number  of  subscribers  to  our  periodi- 
cals on  his  field  of  labor  at  each  quarterly  con- 
ference, and  be  examined  by  the  presiding  elder 
and  quarterly  conference  as  to  whether  he  per- 
forms his  duty  in  circulating  the  periodicals  of 
the  Ghurch  among  the  people  of  his  charge. 

9.  No  preacher  shall  dismiss  any  appoint- 
ment from  his  circuit,  or  mission,  without  the 
consent  of  quarterly  conference. 

10.  He  shall  secure  a  suitable  book  for  a 
church-record,  in  which  he  shall  register  all  the 
appointments  and  classes  on  his  circuit,  station, 
or  mission,  in  their  regular  order,  with  the 
name  of  each  member  attached  to  his  or  her 
class.  He  shall  also  make  a  record  of  all  the 
baptisms,  marriages,  deaths,  and  proceedings  of 
church-trials,  with  names  of  all  the  jDarties  in 
each  case.  He  shall  report  this  record  with  the 
proceedings  therein  to  tV.e  lasi  quarterly  confer- 


DISCrPLINB.  63 

ence  of  each  year  for  approval  or  improvement. 
This  book  shall  be  the  property  of  the  quarterly 
conference,  and  shall  be  in  addition  to  the  regu- 
lar class-books  and  circuit-book. 

11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  preachers  in  charge 
of  circuits,  stations,  and  missions,  to  collect  the 
annual  amount  apportioned  to  their  fields  ot 
labor  for  the  support  of  the  bishops  and  presid- 
ing elders, 

12.  He  shall  hold  a  general  missionary  meet- 
ing at  some  convenient  place  on  his  work.  He 
shall  also  preach  a  missionary  sermon,  and  ap- 
point a  soliciting  committee  at  every  appoint- 
ment, whose  duty  it  ahall  be,  in  conjunction 
with  himself,  to  canvass  the  class  and  communi- 
ty, personally,  to  solicit  funds  for  the  missionary 
society.  He  shall  also  keep  a  list  of  the  names 
of  contributors,  so  far  as  possible,  and  report 
tlie  same  to  conference  for  publication  with  the 
minutes,  or  in  the  annual  report  of  the  Board  of 
Missions,  as  the  conference  may  direct.  He 
shall  also  establish  monthly  missionary  prayer- 
meetings  wherever  practical  in  the  societies  of 
his  charge.  He  shall  be  held  to  a  strict  account 
for  the  faithful  performance  of  these  duties. 

13.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  stationed 
preachers  to  visit  every  family  under  their 
carC;  at  least  once  every  quarter,  and  pay  strict 
iittention  to  the  young  membervS  of  their  charge. 


04  DISCIPLINE. 

14.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  circuit  preacher 
to  visit  the  families  belonging  to  his  charge  at 
least  once  every  six  months. 

15.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  preachers; 
whether  local  or  itinerant,  to  make  use  of  every 
laudable  effort  to  enlarge  the  lx)rders  of  our 
Zion,  in  spreading  scriptural  holiness,  and  re- 
port to  their  resj^ective  annual  conferences  the 
number  of  new  appointments  obtained, 

Section  XII. 

P)'eachers^  Salaries. 

1.  The  salary  of  a  pastor  shall  be  such  amount 
as  may  be  agreed  upon  between  him  and  the 
quarterly  conference  of  the  field  of  labor  to 
which  he  is  sent. 

2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  circuit  or  station, 
when  a  preacher  is  sent  to  it  by  annual  confer- 
ence, to  move  said  i^reacher  on  such  circuit  or 
station  at  its  own  expense. 

3.  A  missionary  employed  \)y  the  Board  of 
Missions  shall  receive  such  salary  as  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Board  may  be  proper. 

4.  Preachers  sustaining  a  superannuated  re- 
lation, and  their  widows  and  orphans,  shall  be 
provided  for  by  their  respective  annual  confer- 
ences, as  their  wants  may  require. 


DISCIPLINE.  65 

Section  XIII. 
Trial  of  Preachers. 

1.  Quarterly- Confer enee  Preachers. — The  quar- 
terly conference  shall  receive  and  try  all  appeals, 
references,  and  complaints  that  may  come  regu- 
larly before  it ;  but  no  member  of  quarterly 
conference  can  be  suspended  or  expelled  from 
the  Church  prior  to  a  committee  trial.  When  a 
quarterly -conference  preacher  or  exhorter  is  ac- 
cused of  any  misdemeanor,  the  leader  or  steward 
shall  prosecute  the  case  and  shall  inquire  ^into 
the  nature  of  the  complaints,  and  -if  there  be 
grounds  for  charges  he  shall  present  to  the  accused 
a  copy  of  the  charges  and  notify  him  to  choose  a 
committee-man,  and  the  prosecutor  shall  choose 
a  second  committee-man,  they  two  a  third,  who 
shall  try  the  case,  the  preacher  in  charge  being 
chairman. 

If  the  accused  refuse  or  neglect,  or  fail,  or  is 
unable  to  choose  a  committee-man  after  being 
properly  notified,  the  quarterly  conference  shall 
choose  a  first  and  second  person,  and  these  two  a 
third,  who  shall  hear  the  case  and  decide.  If  the 
accused  is  found  guilty,  he  shall  be  silenced  : 
provided,  however,  either  party  shall  have  the 
right  of  appeal  to  the  next  quarterly  conference 
for  a  new  trial. 

5 


66  DISCIPLINE. 

t 

2.  Annual- Conference  Preachers. — Ques.  What 
shall  be  done  when  a  preacher,  elder,  or  bishop 
is  reported  guilty  of  immorality,  trespass,  im- 
prudent conduct,  or  disobedience  to  the  order 
and  discipline  of  the  Church  ? 

Ans.  The  preacher  to  whom  it  is  known  shall 
take  with  him  another  preacher,  exhorter,  or 
leader,  and  examine  into  the  charge ;  but  as  the 
apostle  saith  (I.  Tim.  v.  19),  "  Against  an  elder 
receive  not  an  ssccusation,  but  before  two  or 
three  witnesses,"  If  it  should  appear  that  said 
reports  are  well  founded,  they  shall  be  required 
to  prefer  charges  against  the  accused.  If  no  one 
be  found  willing  to  prosecute  the  case,  then  the 
Liext  quarterly  -conference  shall  aj^point  a  prose- 
cutor, whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  notify  the  ac- 
cused, in  writing,  of  all  the  charges  preferred 
against  Mm.  He  shall  also  notify  him  to  choose 
an  elder  as  Ms  committee-man,  the  prosecutor 
choosing  an  elder  also  as  committee-man  in  be- 
half of  the  Church,  and  they  two  a  third  elder 
or  preacher,  before  whom  the  case  shall  l^e  tried. 
The  prosecutor  shall  also  notify  the  presiding 
elder  of  the  district  within  whose  bounds  said 
cause  of  accusation  occurred  ;  and  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  presiding  elder  to  appoint  the  time 
and  place  of  trial,  giving  not  less  than  twenty 
nor  more  than  forty  days'  notice  to  the  parties 


DISCIPLINE.  67 

concerned  of  said  trial ;  and  he  shall  also  act  as 
chairman  in  the  case.  Should  the  committee  be 
satisfied  that  the  accusation  is  sustained,  they 
shall  require  him  to  hold  his  peace  until  the  an- 
nual conference,  where  he  shall  be  accountable ; 
and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  committee  to 
transmit  in  writing  the  entire  proceedings  of 
said  trial  to  the  annual  conference,  where  the 
accused  shall  have  a  hearing  before  phe  confer- 
ence or  a  select  committee  thereof;  and  if  the 
findings  are  sustained  he  shall  be  suspended, 
expelled,  or  retained,  as  the  conference  may  de- 
termine. But  should  the  accused,  after  having 
been  duly  notified,  refuse  or  neglect  to  go  mply 
in  choosing  his  committee-man  within  fifteen 
days,  the  presiding  elder  shall  suspend  him  until 
the  annual  conference,  where,  if  he  shall  refuse 
to  appear,  he  shall  be  dealt  with  according  to  the 
judgment  of  the  conference;  pro^T;ded,  how- 
ever, if  he  be  an  elder,  elders  only  shall  vote  in 
the  case.  If  the  accused  or  prosecutor  be  a  pre- 
siding elder  or  a  bishop,  the  presiding  elder  or. 
bishop,  as  the  case  may  be,  next  adjoining,  shall 
act  as  chairman  on  the  trial ;  provided,  Tint  in 
conferences  having  only  one  presiding  elder,  the 
bishop  shall  appoint  a  chairman  to  act  in  the  case. 
The  foregoing  relates  only;  to  annual-confer- 
ence members. 


68  DISCnPLINE.      . 

Section  XIV. 

Transfer  of  Fu'eachers. 

A  preacher  removing  from  one  conference  to 
another  shall,  when  he  ai^plies  to  another  for 
admission,  produce  a  transfei  from  the  confer- 
ence to  which  he  formerly  belonged,  signed  by 
the  presiding  officer,  or  published  in  the  minutes 
of  the  conference  from  which  he  has  been  trans- 
ferred. 

A  preacher  or  elder  who  receives  a  transfer  is 
required  to  present  said  transfer  to  another  con- 
ference, or  return  it  to  the  conference  by  which 
it  was  issued,  within  eighteen  montlis  after  its 
its  date.  Otherwise  the  transfer  shall  be  null 
and  void,  and  the  name  c\f  the  preachey  shall  be 
published  ^is  no  longer  connected  with  the 
Church  as  a  minister ;  p?'ovidef?,  preachers  taking 
transfers  to  the  Pacific  coast  shall  he  allowed 
two  3^ears  in  which  to  present  their  tr;iusfers. 

A  preacher  or  elder  receiving  a  tr.Misfer  shall 
l>e  a  member  of  the  quarterly  conference  in 
whose  bounds  he  may  reside,  and  ;rlso  be  ac- 
countable for  his  moral  and  official  conduct  to 
the  annual  conference  granting  said  transfer  un- 
til his  transfer  be  received  by  the  conference  to 
which  he  has  been  transferred. 


DISCIPLINE. 


Form  of  Transfer. 


This  is  to  certify  that is  a  regular 

or in  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren 

in  Christ,  of annual  conference,  and  is 

hereby  transferred  to annua]  conference 

of  said  church. 


CHAPTER   VII.— ITINERACY,    ORGANIZA- 
TION AND  SUPPORT. 

Ques.    ^Vho  are  the  itinerants  ? 

A71S.  1.  All  who  propose  themselves  without 
reserve,  after  having  traveled  two  years  under 
the  direction  of  the  stationing  committee  or 
presiding  elder,  and  have  been  received,  as  such, 
by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  of  con- 
ference. 

If  any  one  who  is  received,  as  above  stated, 
shall  cease  to  travel  without  giving  satisfaction 
to  the  conference  of  which  he  is  a  member,  he 
shall  not  be  entitled  to  any  support  from  the 
funds  belonging  to  said  conference.  And,  further- 
more, he  shall  not  re-enter  the  itineracy  with- 
out the  consent  of  at  least  two  thirds  of  the 
conference.  Yet  supernumerary  and  superannu- 
ated relations  shall  be  duly  recognized  as  in 
accordance  with  this  section,  and  may  be  secured 
to  any  brother  having  just  claims  thereto,  by  a 


TO  ^  DISCIPLINE. 

vote  of  conference.  Should  a  traveling  preacher 
or  elder  desire  to  leave  the  work  assigned  him, 
he  must  first  acquaint  the  presiding  elder  of  his 
intention,  by  writing;  and  should  any  one  leave 
or  neglect  his  station,  except  it  be  through  sick- 
ness or  other  unavoidable  circumstances,  be 
shall  be  accountable  to  the  next  annual  confer- 
ence. 

2.  The  bishop  and  presiding  elders  of  the  past 
and  present  years,  together  with  an  equal  num- 
ber of  local  elders  or  preachers,  elected  by  ballot 
by  the  annual  conference,  shall  constitute  a 
stationing  committee,  whose  duty  ifshall  be  to 
supply  all  the  circuits,  stations,  and  missions,  as 
far  as  practicable,  from  tlie  above  list ;  provided, 
however,  that  if  any  of  the  preachers  thus  sta- 
tioned, or  any  who  may  not  receive  an  appoint- 
ment, are  dissatisfied,  they  shall  have  a  right  to 
appeal  to  the  annual  conference,  if  two  thirds 
grant  the  appeal,*'  the  decision  of  which  shall  be 
final ;  and  the  report  of  said  stationing  commit- 
tee shall  be  read  at  least  six  hours  before  the 
adjournment  of  conference. 


*NoTE. — In  case  of  an  appeal  from  the  decision'of  the 
stationing  committee,  no  preacher  stationed  by  said 
committee  shall"  be  changed,  without  his  consent,  to 
accommodate  the  preacher  asking  such  appeal. 


DISCIPLINE.  71 

f 

3.  Should  there  not  be  enough  itinerants  to 
fill  all  the  circuits,  stations,  and  missions,  such 
vacancies  shall  be  supplied  by  the  stationing 
committee  or  presiding  eld'ers. 

Qnes.  2.  What  shall  be  done  to  regulate  the 
annual  conferences  in  the  division  of  circuits  or 
stations  ? 

A71S.  A  circuit  or  station  shall  not  consist  of 
any  specific  number  of  membei"s  or  appoint- 
ments ;  but  when  the  annual  conference  thinks 
it  able  to  support  a  minister,  it  may  be  recogniz- 
ed as  such. 


CHAPTER  VIII.— APPEALS, 
Section  I. 

From  the  Decision  of  a  Class. 

Should  any  member  be  dissatisfied  with  the 
decision  of  a  church  or  class,  or  committee  of  a 
church  or  class,  an  appeal  may  be  had  to  the 
next  quarterly  conference  ensuing  by  giving 
notice  thereof  to  the  preacher  in  charge,  or  the 
secretary  of  the  trial,  w^ithin  thirty  days  after 
said  ti;iai,  together  with  his  reasons  for  such  ap- 
peal ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to 
furnish  the  quarterly  conference  with  a  certified 
copy  of  the  proceedings  of  the  trial  and  of  the 
notice  of  the  appeaL 


72  DISCIPLINE. 

f 

Section  II. 

FroTii  the  Decision  of  a  Quarterly  Oonferenee. 

Any  exhorter  or  jyeacher  dissatisfied  with  the 
decision  of  a  quarterly  conference  may  appeal  to 
the  ensuing  annual  conference  within  thirty 
days  after  the  quarterly  conference,  notify  the 
seereta^ry^  in  writing,  of  his  intention  to  appeal, 
together  with  his  reasons  for  so  doing ;  and  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to  furnish  a 
certified  copy  of  the  proceedings,  the  notifica- 
tion, and  reasons  assigned,  to  the  annual  confer- 
^ace.  * 

Section  III. 

Fro-ni  the  Decisimi  of  Annual  Oynferences. 

Any  member  of  an  annual  conference  who 
may  be  dissatisfied  with  the  decision  of  his  con- 
ference shall,  within  thirty  days  after  the  session 
of  the  annual  conference,  notify  tire  secretary  of 
said  conference  of  his  intention  to  appeal  to  the 
General  Conference,  together  with  his  reasons 
for  so  doing;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  sec- 
retary to  furnish  the  General  Conferenca  with  a 
certified  copy  of  the  notice,  and  reasons  there- 
for, and  of  the  proceedings  of  the  annual  con- 
ference in  the  case. 


DISCIPLINE.  78 

CHAPTER  IX.— DUTIES  IN  GENERAL. 

Section  I. 

Necessity  of  Union  Among  Ourselves. 

Let  us  be  deeply  sensible  (from  what  we  have 
known)  of  the  evil  of  a  division  in  principle, 
spirit,  or  practice,  and  of  the  dreadful  conse- 
quences to  ourselves  and  others.  If  we  are  unit- 
ed, what  can  stand  before  us?  If  we  are  divided 
we  shall  injure  ourselves,  the  work  of  God,  and 
the  souls  of  our  people. 

What  can  be  done  in  order  to  a  closer  union 
with  each  other  ? 

1.  Let  us  be  deeply  convinced  of  the  absolute 
necessity  of  it. 

2.  Pray  earnestly  for  and  speak  truly  and 
freely  to  each  other. 

3.  When  we  meet,  let  us  nev-er  part  without 
prayer,  when  practicable. 

4.  Take  great  care  not  to  despise  each  other's 
gifts. 

5.  Never  speak  lightly  of  each  other. 

6.  Let  us  defend  each  other's  character  in 
everything,  so  far  as  is  consistent  with  truth. 

7.  Labor  in  honor,  each  preferring  another 
before  himself. 

8.  We  recommend  a  serious  examination  of 
the  causes,  evils,  and  cures  of  heart  and  church 
divisions. 


74  DISCIPLIJS'E.        »  '.'""'. 

Section  II. 

Visiting  fro7n  House  to  House  and  Enforcing 
I*ractical  Religion. 

Ques.  How  can  we  further  assist  those  under 
our  care  ? 

Ans.  By  instructing  them  at  their  own 
houses,  which  is  necessary  to  promote  confidence 
and  communion  with  God  among  us,  to  wean  us 
from  the  love  of  the  world,  and  to  inure  us  to 
a  life  of  heavenly-mindedness ;  also,  to  encour- 
age us  to  strive  after  and  practice  brotherly  love, 
that  no  evil  thinking  or  judging  of  one  another 
be  found  among  us ;  and  lastly,  that  we  may 
learn  to  do  as  we  would  wish  to  be  done  by. 

2.  Every  preacher  should  make  it  his  duty  to 
instruct  the  people  on  every  occasion,  both  pub- 
lic and  private,  and  exhort  them  to  be  diligent 
in  all  good,  works  and  doctrine.  Until  this  be 
done,  and  that  in  sincerity,  wp  shall,  upon  tile 
whole,  be  of  but  little  use,  andour  good  shall  be 
evil  spoken  of  ;  therefore,  wherever  we  may  be, 
we  should  guard  against  useless  and  idle  conver- 
sation. • 

Undoubtedly  this  private  application  of  visit- 
ing from  house  to  house,  and  exhorting  the  peo- 
ple, is  found  or  implied  in  these  solemn  words 
of  the  apostle 


DISCIPLINE.  75 

"  I  charge  thee  therefore  before  Gocl,  and  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  judge  the  quick 
and  the  dead  at  his  appearing  and  his  kingdom  ; 
preach  the  word;  be  instant  in  season,  out  of 
season ;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort  with  all  long- 
suffering  and  doctrine."  (II.  Tim.  iv.  1,  2.) 

Section  III. 

Singing. 

We  believe  it  to  be  the  duty  of  all  the  people  of 
God  to  sing  his  praises,  and  to  sing  them  in  the 
great  congregation  as  well  as  in  the  private 
circle.  We  therefore  earnestly  recommend  to  all 
our -people  the  cultivation  of  vocal  music,  so 
that  the  singing  in  our  congregations  may  be 
improved.  As  a  help  to  this  end,  we  advise  all 
our  people  to  provide  themselves  with  hymn- 
books  for  use  in  times  of  public  and  social 
worship. 

We  would  counsel  our  societies  to  avoid  the 
introduction  of  choirs  and  instrumental  music 
into  their  worship. 


CHAPTER  X.— MORAL  REFORM. 

Section  I 
Temperance. 
The  distilling,  vending,  and  use  of  intoxicat- 
ing drinks  as  a  beverage  shall  be  and  is  hereby 


76  DISCIPLINE. 

forbidden  throughout  our  church,  as  is  also  the 
renting  and  leasing  of  property  to  be  used  for 
the  manufacturing  or  selling  of  such  beverages; 
also  the  signing  of  petitions  for  license  or  the 
entering  as  bondsmen  for  persons  engaged  in 
the  traffic  of  intoxicating  drinks ;  and  should 
any  of  our  members  or  preachers  be  fonnd  guilty 
in  this  respect,  they  shall  be  dealt  with  as  in  the 
case  of  other  immoralities  ;  provided,  however, 
that  this  rule  shall  not  be  so  construed  as  to  pre- 
vent druggists  and  othei*s  from  vending  or  using 
it  for  medicinal  or  mechanical  purposes. 

Section  II. 

Slavery, 

All  slavery,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  is  to- 
tally prohibited,  and  shall  in  no  way  be  tolerat- 
ed in  our  church.  Should  any  be  found  in  our 
society  who  hold  slaves,  they  can  not  continue 
as  members  unless  they  do  personally  manumit 
CM*  set  free  such  slaves. 

And  when  it  is  known  to  any  of  our  ministers 
in  charge  of  a  circuit,  station,  or  mission,  that 
any  of  its  members  hold  a  slave  or  slaves,  he 
shall  admonish  such  members  to  manumit  such 
slave  or  slaves';  and  if  such  persons  do  not  take 
measures  to  carry  out  the  Discipline,  they  shall 
be  expelled  by  the  proper  authorities    of  the 


DISCIPLINE.  77 

Church  ;  and  any  minister  refusing  to  attend  to 
the  duties  above  described,  shall  be  dealt  with 
by  the  authorities  to  which  he  is  amenable.* 

Section  III. 

Secret  Societies. 

We  believe  that  secret  societies  are  evil  in  their 
nature  and  tendency;  that  they  employ  solemn 
oaths  and  obligations  for  evil  and  unworthy 
ends;  that  they  bind  men  together  in  brother- 
hood with  wicked  and  unholy  persons,  and 
bring  them  into  fellowship  not  consistent  with 
the  teachings  of  our  Lord  and  his  apostles  ;  that 
they  tend  to  produce  jealousies  and  alienations 
in  the  church  of  God ;  that  they  employ  the 
forms  of  religion  in  unwarranted  services  and 
ceremonies,  not  in  the  nair^e  of  Christ  nor  found- 
ed on  the  merits  of  his  atonement;  that  they 
enjoin  under  oaths  and  solemn  obligations  obe- 
dience to  laws  and  regulations  unknown  to  the 
civil  government  within  which  they  are  organ- 
ized, or  to  any  government  divinely  ordained  ; 
that  they  pervert  the  Holy  Sci-iptures  to  foolish 
and  unholy  uses ;  that  their  ceremonies  encour-" 


*Notk: — This  hiw,  in  its  essential  prohibitory  features, 
was  adopted  by  the  General  Conference  in  1821,  Bishop 
Newcomer  presiding.  It  was  amended  to  its  present 
form  in  1826. 


78  DISCIPLINE. 

age  many  of  their  adherents  in  liopes  of  eternal 
life  \^ithout  a  truly  evangelical  faith  ;  that  they 
are  contrary  to  that  openness  of  conduct  and> 
guilelessness  of  character  enjoined  by  the  word 
of  God,  and  that  Christians  should  not  be  con- 
nected with  them,  for  the  apostle  expressly  says  : 
**  Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  together  with  unbe- 
lievers ;  for  what  fellowship  hath  righteousness 
with  unrighteousness  ?  and  what  communion 
hath  light  with  darkness?  and  what  concord  hath 
Christ  with  Belial  ?  or  what  part  hath  he  that  be- 
lieveth  with  an  infidel  ?"  "  Wherefore  come  out 
from  among  them  and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the 
Lord  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing,  and  I 
will  receive  j'ou,  and  will  be  a  father  unto  you, 
and  ye  shall  be  my  sons  and  daj^ghters,  saith  the 
Lord  almighty." 

1.  Any  member  or  preacher  who  shall  connect 
himself  with  a  secret  society  shall  be  regarded  as 
having  thereby  declared  that  he  prefers  ,  such 
society  to  the  fellowship  of  our  church,  and  shall 
be  considered  as  having  withdrawn  from  the 
Church. 

2.  No  person  shall  be  permitted  to  join  our 
church  while  holding  membership  in  a  secret 
society. 

3.  If  any  member  or  preacher,  at  the  time  of 
the   passage  of  this  rule,  be   connected   with  a 


DISCIPLINE.  79 

secret  society,  and  does  not  discontiue  such  con- 
nection within  six  months  thereafter,  his  failure 
to  do  so  shall  be  regarded  as  a  refusal  to  comply 
with  the  condition  of  membersliip  as  found  in 
our  Constitution  (Article  IT!,  Section  7,)  and  his 
severance  from  the  Cliurch  shall  be  entered  on 
the  church-records. 

4.  If  any  member  or  preacher  connected  with 
a  secret  society  shall  deny  or  conceal  such  con- 
nection, he  shall  be  tried  in  the  manner  as  set 
forth  in  the  sectiotis  of  our  Discipline  relating  to 
the  trial  of  members,  and  trial  of  preachers,  to 
determine  the  facts  in  the  case. 

5.  In  cases,  of  withdrawal  from  the  Church  as 
recognized  and  set  forth  in  this  rule,  the  preach- 
er in  charge  shall  announce  the  facts  to  the  class, 
and  see  that  the  records  of  the  Church  corre- 
spond with  the  facts.  If  the  person  be  a  mem- 
ber of  the  quarterly  or  annual  conference,  the 
conference  to  wliich  he  belongs  shall  see  that  a 
record  of  the  fact  and  manner  of  withdrawal  is 
made  upon  its  journal. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  pastor  to  instruct 
our  people  upon  the  evils  of  secret  societies,  and 
to  endeavor  to  prevent  them  from  being  ensnar- 
ed in  such  evils,  and,  so  far  as  possible,  to  re- 
claim all  Avho  may  have  joined  anj^  secret  order. 

7.  Provided,  That  in  case  a  member  has  Ijeeu 


80  DISCIPLINE. 

deceived  and  thereby  drawn  into  any  of  those 
societies  commonly  called  minor  orders,  he  may 
be  borne  with  for  a  reasonable  time,  if  there  be 
reason  to  believe  that  he  may  be  reclaimed  ;  but 
the  time  shall  not  extend  beyond  twelve  months 
in  any  case. 

Section  IV. 

Oaths. 

We  believe  tha,t  the  mode  of  testifying  to  the 
truth  when  required  so  to  do  in  a  legal  form,  by 
way  of  affirmation,  is  on  us  solemnly,  conscien- 
tiously, and  fully  binding,  before  God,  to  tell  the 
truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the 
truth. 

Section  V. 

War. 
We  most  positively  record  our  disapproval  of 
engaging  in  voluntary,  national,  aggressive 
warfare  ;  yet  we  recognize  the  rightful  authori- 
ty of  the  civil  government,  and  hold  it  respon- 
sible for  the  preservation  and  defense  of  our  na- 
tional compact,  against  treason,  or  invasion  by 
any  belligerent  force;  and  we  believe  it  to  be 
entirely  consistent  with  the  spirit  of  Christiani- 
ty to  bear  arms  when  called  upon  to  do  so  by  the 
properly  constituted  authorities  of  our  govern- 
ment for  its  preservation  and  defense. 


DISCIPLINE.  81 

CHAPTER   XI.— DOCTRINAL  PUBLICA- 
TIONS. 

1.  The  editor  of  the  Religious  Telescope  and 
the  editor  of  the  Sabbath-school  literature  and 
the  editor  of  the  German  periodicals  and  the 
editor  of  the  Missionary  Visitor  and  the  publish- 
ing agent  shall  constitute  a  Book  Committee, 
without  whose  sanction  no  book  shall  be  pub- 
lished in  the  name  of  the  Church  or  publishing 
house  during  the  intervals  of  the  Greneral  Con- 
ference. 

2.  No  one  of  our  preachers  or  laymen  shall 
become  the  author  of  any  doctrinal  book  or 
pamphlet,  in  a  printed  form,  in  the  name  of  the 
Church,  without  the  approbation  of  the  annual 
conference,  or  of  a  committee  chosen  hj  the 
same.  And  if  any  preacher  or  layman  vio- 
lates this  rule,  he  shall  be  accountable  to  the 
class,  or  the  quarterly  or  annual  conference,  as 
the  case  may  be. 


CHAPTER  XII.— FORMULAS. 

Section  I. 

Marriage  Ceremony, 

We  are  gathered  together  in  the  sight  cf  God, 
and  in  the  presence  of  these  witnesses,  to  join 
together  N.  and  M.  as  husband  and  wife.    If  any 


82  DISCIPLINE. 

person  present  knows  any  just  cause  or  impedi- 
ment why  these  persons  should  not  be  joined  in 
marriage,  let  the  same  now  speak  or  forever 
after  keep  silent. 

[If  no  impediment  be  alleged,  then  shall  the 
minister  say  unto  the  man  :] 

"  N.,  wilt  thou  have  this  woman  to  be  thy 
wedded  wife,  to  live  together  after  God's  ordi-. 
nance?  Wilt  thou  love,  honor,  and  comfort 
her,  in  sickness  and  in  health,  in  prosperity  and 
adversity,  and  forsaking  all  others,  keep  thee 
only  unto  her  so  long  as  ye  both  shall  live?  If 
so,  then  answer,  'I  will.'  " 

[Then  shall  the  minister  say  to  the  woman  :] 

"  M.,  wilt  thou  have  this  man  to  be  thy  wed- 
ded husband,  to  live  together  after  God's  ordi- 
nance ?  Wilt  thou  love,  honor,  and  obey  him, 
in  sickness  and  in  health,  in  prosperity  and  ad- 
vei'sity,  and  forsaking  all  others,  keep  thee  only 
unto  him  so  long  as  ye  both  shall  live  ?  If  so, 
then  answer,  '  I  will.'  " 

[Then  the  minister  shall  require  them  to  join 
their  right  hands,  and  say :] 

*'  Those  whom  God  hath  joined  together,  let 
no  man  put  asunder. 

"  Inasmuch  as  N.  and  M.  have  consented  to- 
gether in  marriage,  and  have  witnessed  the 
same  before  God  and    these  witnesses,  I  pro- 


DISCIPLINE.  g3 

nounce  them  husband  and  wife,  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.     Amen." 

Qiies.  Who  of  our  ministers  are  permitted  to 
solemnize  marriage? 

An.^.  All  ordained  ministers,  and  also  those 
that  have  obtained  license  from  an  annual  con- 
ference, where  the  law  of  the  state  makes  it  the 
privilege  of  every  regularly  licensed  minister  to 
solemnize  marriage ;  but  none  are  permitted  to 
solemnize  marriage  with  quarterly-conference 
Ucense. 

Section  II. 

BuHal  of  the  Dead. 

After  the  coffin  is  lowered  into  the  grave,  the 
minister,  if  the  deceased  is  a  child  or  an  adult 
Christian,  shall  repeat  the  following  : 

"  Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  of  few  days, 
and  full  of  trouble.  He  cometh  forth  like  a  flow- 
er, and  is  cut  down  :  he  fleeth  also  as  a  shadow, 
and  continueth  not."  **  Lord,  make  me  to  know 
mine  end,  and  the  measure  of  my  days,  what  it 
is  ;  that  I  may  know  how  frail  I  am." 

"  In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death ;  unto 
whom  should  we  seek  for  succjor  but  unto  thee, 
O  Lord,  who  for  our  sins  art  justly  displeased." 
Our  hope  is  in  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ,  who  hath 
said,  "  I  am  the  resurrection,  and  the  Kfe :  be 


84  DISCIPLINE. 

that  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet 
shall  he  live  ;  and  whosoever  liveth  and  believ- 
eth in  me  shall  never  die."  "  For  we  know  that, 
if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dis- 
solved, we  have  a  building  of  God,  a  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens." 

"  And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying 
unto  me,  Wiite,  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die 
in  the  Lord  from  henceforth :  Yea,  saith  the 
Spirit,  that  tiiey  may  rest  from  their  labors  ;  anc 
their  works  do  follow  them." 

"  There  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  soi- 
row,  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there  be  any  more 
pain :  for  the  former  things  are  passed  away." 

Inasmuch  a^s  God  in  his  wise  providence  has 
called  out  of  time  into  eternity  the  soul  of  our 
(brother,  sister,  or  child,)  we  commit  his  (or  her) 
remains  to  the  ground,  earth  to  earth,  ashes  to 
ashes,  dust  to  dust,  in  the  confident  hope  of  the 
general  resurrection  through  the  'Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  at  his  coming  and  glory ;  that  this  cor- 
ruptible body  shall  be  raised  up  and  be  fashion- 
ed like  unto  the  glorious  body  of  Christ,  be  re- 
united with  the  soul  and  be  received  into  ever- 
lasting habitations."    Amen. 

BENEDICTION. 


DISCIPLINE.  86 

CHAPTER  XIII.— CHARTERS. 

Whereas,  the  laws  of  certain  states  require 
churches  and  institutions  to  be  incorporated,  in 
order  to  be  recognized  by  law : 

Therefore,  in  such  cases,  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence of  the  respective  circuits,  stations,  and  mis- 
sions shall  appoint  a  competent  committee,  who 
shall  apply  to  the  proper  source  for  an  act  of  in- 
corporation on  all  the  church-property  within 
the  bounds  of  such  circuits,  stations,  or  missions; 
and  at  the  last  quairterly  conference  of  each  year 
the  presiding  elder  shall  examine  said  committee 
in  reference  to  the  above  subject. 

2.  When  legacies  are  bequeathed  to  the 
Church,  the  names  of  the  presiding  bishops 
should  be  inserted  in  the  will  of  the  testator,  to 
be  under  the  control  of  said  bishops  and  their 
successor-  iii  office,  to  be  appropriated  to  the 
purpose  siDecified  by  the  donors. 


CHAPTER  XIV.— SABBATH-SCHOOLS. 

Section  I. 

Duty  to  Children  and  Sahhath- Schools. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  to  benefit  the  rising 
generation  ? 

Ans.  Let  him  who  is  in  any  way  zealous  for 
God  and  the  souls  of  men  begin  the  work  imme- 


86  DISCIPLINE. 

diately.  Wherever  children  are  found,  speak 
freely  to  them,  and  instruct  diligently ;  exhort 
them  to  be  good,  and  pray  with  them  earnestly, 
simply  and  plainly,  that  they  may  learn  to  know 
their  Creator  and  Redeemer  in  the  days  of  their 
youth. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  our  members  to  en- 
courage our  Sabbath-schools  by  their  presence 
when  practicable,  and  always  to  lend  them  their 
aid  and  influence. 

Section  II. 

Qenei^al  Sabbath- School  Board — Constitution 
and  By-Laws. 

ARTICLE  I. 

Name. 

This  shall  be  called  the  General  Sabbath-school 
Board  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 

ARTICLE   II. 

Object. 

The  object  of  this  Board  shall  be  to  promote 
the  cause  of  Sabbath-schools  in  connection  with 
our  church  and  elsewhere,  and  thus,  by  our 
united  efforts,  to  promote  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  happiness  and  salvation  of  mankind. 


DISCIPLINE.  87^ 

ARTICLE  III. 

Mertib&t'S, 

The  members  of  this  Board  shall  be  a  presi- 
dent, secretary,  treasurer,  and  three,  directors, 
who  shall  be  elected  every  four  years  by  the 
General  Conference. 

ARTICLE   IV, 

Duties. 

Pi'esident. — The  president  shall  have  the  gener- 
al operations  of  the  Board  under  his  care.  He 
shall  call  meetings  of  the  Board  when  necessary, 
present  the  wants  ot  the  Board;  and  he  shall 
sign  all  orders  drawn  on  the  treasurer  for  the  use 
of  the  Board,  as  appropriated  by  it. 

Secretary. — The  secretary  shall  keep  a  record 
of  all  the  business  transactions  of  the  Board, 
conduct  its  correspondence,  report  to  it  annu- 
ally or  oftener  if  desired,  and  make  such  rqports 
for  it  to  the  General  Conference  as  may  be  re- 
quired, and  if  practicable,  at  the  request  of  the 
Board,  devote  his  whole  time  to  its  interests. 

Treasivrer. — The  treasurer  shall  take  charge  of 
and  hold  in  trust  all  the  funds  and  papers  of 
value  belonging  to  the  Board,  subject  to  its  di- 
rection and  the  written  order  of  the  president. 


88  DISCIPLINE. 

I 

ARTICIiE  V. 

Meetings^  Powers,  Duties. 

Meetings  of  the  Board  shall  be  held  annually, 
or  oftener  if  need  be,  at  the  call  of  the  presi- 
dent, to  provide  ways  and  means  for  the  suc- 
cessful operation  of  its  plans.  It  shall  appropriate 
money  to  defray  all  necessary  expenses,  and 
shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in  its  numbers, 
and  to  employ  any  suitable  person  or  i>ersons  to 
perform  needed  services  for  the  advancement  of 
its  objects  under  its  direction.  It  shall  also, 
through  its  secretary,  make  quadrennial  reports 
to  the  General  Conference.' 

ARTICIiE  VI. 

Appropriations, 

The  funds  of  the  Board  shall  be  used  as  fol- 
lows: 

i.  To  assist  in  organizing  and  sustaining  Sab- 
bath-schools in  such  localities  and  manner  as 
may  be  advisable. 

2.  To  conduct  the  business  and  carry  forward 
the  work  of  the  Board. 

3.  When  aid  is  needed  those  making  the  ap- 
plication shall  first  organize  a  United  Brethi-en 
Sabbath- school  by  electing  officers  and  adopting 
the  disciplinary  regulations  of  the  Church,  and 


DISCIPLINE.  88 

shall  report  the  fact  to  the  secretary,  as  well  as 
the  kind  and  amount  of  help  needed ;  and  upon 
a  favorable  consideration  of  the  application, 
such  supplies  as  may  be  considered  necessary 
and  advisable  shall  be  furnished.  Such  dona- 
tion shall,  however,  be  discontinued  unless  a 
church-organization  shall  be  effected  after  a 
reasonable  time. 

Section  HI. 

Annual-Conference  Relations  and  Duties, 

Each  annual  conference  shall,  at  some  suitable 
time  in  its  annual  session,  hold  a  Sabbath-school 
anniversary-meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  advanc- 
ing the  interests  of  the  Board.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  all  our  preachers,  whether  local  or  trav- 
eling, to  exert  their  influence  in  favor  of  the 
work  of  this  Board,  and  assist  in  organizing  and 
sustaining  United  Brethren  Sabbath-schools  in 
our  houses  and  places  of  worship ;  and  those  in 
charge  of  works  shall  preach  on  the  subject  of 
Sabbath -schools  at  least  once  a  year  at  each  ap- 
pointment and  report  the  following  items  to  the 
annual  conference :  First,  the  number  of  United 
Brethren  Sabbath-schools  ;  second,  the  number 
of  officers  and  teachers  employed ;  third,  the 
number  of  scholars  enrolled  ;  fourth,  the  num- 
ber of  accessions  to  the  Church  from  the  Sab- 


90  DISCJIPLINB. 

bath-school;  fifth,  the  number  of  schools  con- 
tinuing twelve  months  each  year ;  sixth,  the 
amount  of  money  collected  (1)  for  the  use  of 
schools,  (2)  for  the  general  fund,  and  (3)  for  the 
missionary  society. 

Section  IV. 

Oi^ganizaiion  of  Sabbath- Schools. 

In  order  to  insure  unity  in  administration  and 
soundness  of  teaching,  all  our  Sabbath-schools 
shall,  as  far  as  possible,  conform  to  the  following 

PLAN   OF   ORGANIZATION. 

1.  Any  preacher  or  member  of  this  church 
may  organize  a  United  Brethren  Sabbath-school 
by  calling  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the 
Church,  together  with  other  friends  of  Sabbath- 
schools,  in  any  community  where  practicable, 
and  organize  by  enrolling  all  who  will  agree  to 
unite  in  such  organizations,  and  proceed  to  elect 
by  ballot  or  otherwise  a  superintendent  and  oth- 
er necessary  officers ;  provided,  however,  that 
none  be  allowed  to  vote  who  are  under  twelve 
years  of  age. 

2.  The  superintendent  and  other  general  offi- 
cers of  the  school  shall  hold  their  respective 
office  one  year,  or  until  their  successors  are 
chosen 


DISCIPLINE.  91 

3.  The  superintendent  shall  render  to  each 
quarterly  conference  an  account  of  the  condition 
of  his  school,  stating  also  whether  he  is  prompt 
in  opening  and  orderly  in  his  management  of 
the  same,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  he  shall 
see  that  a  successor  is  selected  after  the  manner 
described ;  provided,  that  on  stations  where  it 
shall  be  thought  best  by  the  pastor  the  quarterly 
conference  may  elect. 

4.  The  quarterly  conference  shall  have  power 
to  dismiss  a  superintendent  for  moral  or  other 
delinquency,  or  for  heresy,  and  supply  the  va- 
cancy. 

5.  Teachers  should  be  chosen  and  appointed 
by  the  superintendent,  with  the  advice  and  con- 
sent of  the  preacher  in  charge,  and  should  b© 
distinguished  for  piety  and  aptness  to  teach,  and 
should  be  continued  as  long  as  they  are  useful. 

Section  V. 

ReLalion  of  Sabbath- Schools  to  the  Missionary 
Work. 

Each  of  our  Sabbath-schools  is  hereby  consti- 
tuted an  auxiliary  to  the  branch  missionary 
society  within  whose  limits  it  is  located,  and  th« 
superintendent,  secretary,  and  treasurer  of  the 
Sabbath-school  shall  be  president,  secretary,  and 
treasurer  of  the  said  auxiliary,  and  shall  report 


92  DISCIPLINE. 

annually,  through  the  preacher  in  charge,  to  the 
oranch  society.  Said  preacher  is  to  notify  the 
above-named  officers,  at  the  close  of  each  confer- 
ence year,  that  such  report  is  due,  and,  if  need 
be,  assist  in  its  preparation.  And  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  every  auxiliary  society  to  hold  a  quar- 
terly missionary  meeting  and  take  up  missiona- 
ry collections.  Each  class  shall  be  furnished 
with  a  blank  book,  ruled  with  columns  for 
monthly  missionary  collections,  in  which  the 
names  of  all  members  shall  be  entered,  with 
the  request  that  each  member  give  monthly  or 
quarterly  at  the  rate  of  one  cent  a  week  or 
more,  and  be  credited  in  said  book  by  their 
teacher,  with  what  they  pay,  to  be  reported  at 
the  quarterly  missionary  meeting  by  the  treas- 
urer— these  books  to  be  furnished  gratis  to  all 
our  Sabbath-schools  by  the  officers  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  Any  member 
may  become  a  life  member  of  the  auxiliary  by 
the  payment  of  three  dollars,  and  shall  be  enti- 
tled to  a  certificate  of  life  membership. 

Section  VI. 
Forra  of  Constitution  of  a  iSabhath-SchooL 

The  following  is  recommended  as  a  suitable 
form  for  the  constitution  of  a  United  Brethren 
Sabbath-school : 


DISCIPIilNE.  98 

ARTICLE  I. 

Nmne. 

This  Sabbath-school  shall  be  known   as  the 

[here  insert  name] a 

of [here  insert  place] 

ARTICLE   II, 

Object. 

Its  object  shall  be  to  gather  in  all,  both  young 
and  old,  a,s  far  as  possible,  to  study  and  teach  the 
Bible. 

ARTICLE   III. 

Officers. 

Th-e  officers  shall  be  a  superintendent,  a  secre- 
tary, a  treasurer,  a  librarian,  and  a  chorister,  all 
of  whoin  shall  be  chosen  in  a  manner  prescribed 
in  the  book  of  Discipline,  and  shall  hold  their 
oflices  one  year,  or  until  their  successors  are 
elected. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Duties  of  Officers 

The  duties  of  the  officers  shall  be  such  as  are 
usual  in  similar  offices. 

ARTICLE   V. 

Teachers. 
A  suitable  number  of  teachers  shall  be  ap- 


•  94  DISCIPLINE. 

pointed  by  the  superintendent,  advised  and  as- 
sisted by  the  preacher  in  charge  (if  practicable), 
unless  he  prefers  to  delegate  that  power  to  the 
school.  Teachers  so  appointed  shall  continue  in 
office  without  limit  as  to  time. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

Meetings. 

Tlie  times,  places,  and  conduct  of  weekly 
meetings  for  devotion  and  instruction,  of 
monthly,  quarterly,  or  annual  meetings  for  con- 
cert, review,  report,  or  election,  shall  be  under 
the  control  of  the  superintendent,  supported  by 
the  school. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

Amendments, 

This  constitution  may  be  amended  by  any  reg- 
ular meeting  of  the  school  by  a  two-thirds  vote 
of  the  members  of  the  school  of  voting  age 
present,  provided  that  notice  of  the  proposed 
change  has  been  given  at  a  previous  meeting. 


CHAPTER  XV.— CONSTITUTION  OF  THE 
MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 

I.    This  society  shall  be  called  the  "  Home^ 
Frontier,  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 


DISCIPLINE.  95 

United  Brethren  in  Christ,"  and  is  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  aiding  the  annual  conferences  in 
extending  their  missionary  labors  throughout 
the  country,  and  into  foreign  and  heathen  lands. 

II.  The  payment  of  ten  dollars  at  one  time 
shall  constitute  a  life  member,  or  fifty  dollars  at 
one  time  a  life  director.  No  certificate  of  life 
membership  or  life  directorship  shall  be  granted 
until  the  full  amount  is  paid. 

III.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall  consist 
of  a  president,  four  vice-presidents,  secretary, 
treasurer,  and  seven  directors,  who,  together, 
shall  constitute  a  board  of  directors,  and  shall 
be  elected  every  four  years  by  the  General  Con- 
ference. 

IV.  The  president  shall  preside  at  all  meet- 
ings of  the  Board,  and  shall  have  power,  in  con- 
junction with  the  secretary,  to  call  special  meet- 
ings. In  the  absence  of  the  president,  one  of  the 
vice-presidents  shall  fill  his  place. 

V.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a  correct  record 
of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  society,  conduct  its 
correspondence,  and  devote  himself  exclusively 
to  the  interests  of  the  society.  He  shall  keep  a 
record  of  all  the  life  members,  life  directors, 
legacies,  etc.,  etc.  He  shall  also  make  out  and 
publish,  under  the  direction  of  the  Board,  an 
annual  report  of  the  whole  missionary  work ; 


96  DISCIPLINE. 

also  a  quadrennial  report  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence. Hjs  salary  shall  be  determined  by  the 
Board,  and  reported  to  the  ensuing  General  Con- 
ference* 

VI.  The  treasurer  shall  hold  the  funds  of  the 
society,  subject  to  the  order  of  the  Board,  and,  at 
the  discretion  of  the  Board,  devote  himself  ex- 

liisively  to  the  interests  of  the  Missionary  Soci- 
ety. 

VII.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  hold  annual 
meetings;  have  power  to  appoint  an  executive 
committee,  consisting  of  five  members;  make 
by-laws  to  regulate  its  own  business  ;  appropri- 
ate money  to  defray  incidental  expenses ;  employ 
missionaries  and  agents ;  open  new  missions  ; 
make  appropriations  to  mission-conferences ; 
employ  laborers  for  mission-districts ;  dissolve 
mission-conferences ;  fill  vacancies  in  its  own 
body ;  in  connection  with  the  bishops  or  any  one 
of  them,  ordain  ministers  to  the  office  of  elder  ; 
and  publish,  at  our  own  press,  such  matter  as 
the  cause  may  from  time  to  time  demand. 

VIII.  A  mission-district  shall  consist  of  two 
or  more  fields  of  labor,  outside  the  bounds  of  an 
annual  conference.  Its  annual  sessions  shall  be 
presided  over  by  a  bishop,  or  an  elder  appointed 
by  the  Board  of  Missions.  At  these  annual 
zueetings  the  boundaries  of  fields  of  labor  shall 


DISCPLIINE.  97 

be  fixed,  the  character  of  members  examined, 
preachers  may  be  received,  examined  and  passed 
on  course  of  reading,  and  be  ordained.  A  pre- 
siding elder  may  be  elected,  if  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions so  advise,  and  ministers  appointed  to  fill 
the  fields  of  labor  by  the  presiding  officer  and 
the  presiding  elder 

IX.  Each  missionary  in  the  employ  of  the 
Board  shall  report  quarterly  to  the  secretary  the 
condition  of  his  mission ;  and  no  missionary 
shall  be  entitled  to  his  salary  who  shall  neglect 
to  comply  with  this  requirement,  or  leave  his 
work  without  the  consent  of  the  Executive 
Committee  or  the  Board  of  Missions,  or  his  pre- 
siding elder.  The  presiding  elders  of  mission- 
(X)nferences  shall  report  quarterly  the  condition 
of  their  respective  works. 

X.  Each  conference  shall  be  considered  a 
branch  of  this  society,  and  shall  elect  a  treasurer 
and  secretary.  1.  The  branch  treasurer  shall 
hold  the  funds  designed  for  the  Board,  subject  to 
its  order.  2.  The  branch  secretary  shall  keep  a 
record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  annual  confer- 
ence in  relation  to  home,  frontier,  and  foreign 
missions,  separately,  and  report  the  same  imme- 
diately after  the  session  of  the  conference  to  the 
secretary  of  the  Board. 

He  shall  report  the  number  of  missions,  ap- 
T 


88  DISCIPLINE. 

pointments,  meeting-houses,  members  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year,  members  received,  and 
members  remaining ;  Sabbath-schools,  scholars, 
and  teachers  ;  what  paid  on  missions  as  salary ; 
what  collected  for  missions  on  missions ;  what 
collected  for  missions  in  the  whole  conference; 
how  much  paid  the  parent  Board,  and  how  much 
paid  to  home  missions;  and  the  names  and  post- 
office  addresses  of  life  directors  and  life  mem- 
bers. 

The  branch  secretaries  shall  be  responsible  to 
their  respective  annual  conferences  forth©  faith- 
ful discharge  of  their  duties. 

XI.  The  branch  societies,  or  individual  mem- 
bers, may  specify  to  what  particular  portion  of 
the  work  their  funds  shall  be  applied  ;  j)rovided, 
however,  that  if  more  is  thus  designated  than  is 
necessary  for  the  work  specified,  it  may  be  ap- 
plied to  some  other  work,  as  the  Board  shall 
determine. 

XII.  Each  branch  society  shall  have  the  ex- 
clusive management  of  the  home  missions  with- 
in its  own  limits;  provided,  however,  that  the 
missionary  Board  shall  be  permitted  to  open  and 
operate  m.issions  within  the  bounds  of  any  an- 
nual conference,  jointly  or  independently,  by 
the  consent  of  such  conference 

XTII.  Treasurers  of  the  parent  Board  and  of 
the  branch  society  shall  give  apprr  ved  security. 


DISCIPLINE.  99 

XIV.  All  bequests  or  donations,  the  interest 
of  which  is  to  go  to  missionary  purposes,  made 
to  any  of  the  above  societies,  shall  be  kept 
sacred. 

Form  of  Bequest. 

I  give  and  bequeath  to  tlie  Home,  Frontier, 
and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  organized  by  the  General 
Conference  of  said  Church,  May  20, 1853,  and  in- 
corporated in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  September 
23,  1854,  the  sum  of dollars ;  and  the  re- 
ceipt of  the  treasurer  of  the  society  shall  be  a 
sufficient  discharge  thereof  to  my  executors  and 
administrators. 


CHAPTER   XVI.— WOMAN'S    MISSIONARY 
ASSOCIATION. 

ARTICLES   OF  INCORPORATION. 

1.  The  name  by  which  this  corporation  shall 
be  known  is,  "The  Woman's  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,"  and 
the  said  organization  is  not  for  profit. 

2.  The  principal  business  of  the  said  corpora- 
tion is  to  be  transacted  in  the  City  of  Dayton, 
County  of  Montgomery,  State  of  Ohio. 

3.  vSaid  porporfttion  i«?  formed  for  the  purpose 
of  engaging,  and   uniting  the  efforts  of  women, 


100  DISCIPLINE. 

in  sending  missionaries  into  the  foreign  and  do- 
mestic fields  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
supporting  said  missionaries  and  other  laborers 
in  said  mission  fields,  and  of  securing  by  gift, 
bequest,  and  otherwise  the  funds  necessary  for 
the  purpose  aforesaid. 

4.  Said  corporation  is  not  to  have  capital 
stock. 

BY-LAWS. 

BY-LAW   I. 

Membership. 

The  payment  of  |1  annually  shall  constitute 
membership  in  the  association,  and  payment  of 
$10  at  one  time  life  membership.  The  payment 
of  $25  at  one  time  shall  constitute  the  donor  a 
life  director.  By  the  installment  plan  the  pay- 
ment of  $2  annually  for  five  years  constitutes 
life  membership,  or  ^5  annually  for  five  years  a 
life  directorship,  A  certificate  is  given  at  the 
lune  of  payment  in  full. 

BY-LAW   II. 

Organization. 

The  organization  of  this  society  shall  consist 
of  a  board  of  managers,  nine  trustees,  and 
branch  and  local  associations  to  be  organized 
under  the  Constitution  hereto  attached. 


DISCIPLINE.  101 

BY-LAW  III. 

Board  of  Managers. 

The  Board  of  managers  shall  consist  of  three 
delegates  from  each  branch  association,  who 
shall  be  elected  at  the  branch  annual  meeting, 
held  within  three  months  of  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Board.  Said  Board  shall  meet  in  the  First 
United  Brethren  Church  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  at  the 
time  of  the  meeting  of  the  Home,  Frontier,  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  in  May,  1876,  and 
ajinually  thereafter,  at  such  time  and  place  as 
they  may  from  time  to  time  designate. 

The  duties  of  said  Board  shall  be  advisory  to 
trustees.  Life  directors  of  the  association  shall 
be  regarded  as  advisory  members  of  the  Board 
of  Managers. 

BY-LAW   IV. 

Duties  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.* 

The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  have  power  to  se- 
lect locations  for  missions,  appoint  missionaries, 
appropriate  the  funds  of  the  association  as  tine 
interest  of  the  cause  may  demand,  and  attend  to 
the  administration  and  general  management  of 
the  affairs  of  the  association. 


^Trustees  to  be  elected  by  members  of  the  aesocia- 
tion,  who  shall  vote  either  in  person  or  by  proxy,  the 
first  Thursday  in  June,  in  the  City  of  Dayton.  The 
ofl&cers  shall  be  elected  by  the  trustees. 


102  DISCIPLINE. 

BY-LAW  V. 

Relation  of  the  Society  to  the  Church. 

This  society  shall  work  iu  harmony  with  the 
Home,  Frontier,  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  and  under  the 
direction  of  the  General  Conference  of  said 
church ;  and  its  missionaries  shall  be  subject  to 
the  same  rules  that  govern  the  missionaries  of 
the  aforesaid  Missionary  Society 

BY-LAW   VI. 

Funds. 

AH  funds  coming  into  the  hands  of  the  treas- 
urer of  the  association  will  be  held  subject  to 
the  order  of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  and  no  funds 
shall  be  disbursed  by  the  treasurer  except  upon 
the  orders  of  said  Board,  duly  signed  by  the  sec- 
retary. 

BY-LAW   VII. 

Branch  Societies. 

One  branch  society  maN'  be  formed  within  the 
bounds  of  any  annual  conference  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  by  the  adoption  of  the  branch 
constitution. 

BY'-LAW    VIII. 

These  by-laws  may  be  altered  or  amended  at 


DISCIPLINE.  103 

any  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Managers 
by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  present. 

FORM   OF  BEQUEST. 

I  give,  devise,  and  bequeath  to  the  Woman's 
Missionary  Association  of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ,  for Dollars 

Branch  Constitution. 

article  i. 

This  society  shall  be  called  the Confer- 
ence Branch  of  the  Woman's  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 

ARTICLE  II. 

The  object  of  this  society  is  to  aid  the  asso- 
ciation to  awaken  an  interest  among  women  in 
behalf  of  Christian  missions,  and  to  raise  funds 
for  their  support. 

ARTICLE   III. 

The  membership  of  this  society  shall  consist 
of  the  members  of  the  association  within  the 
limits  of  this  conference  district. 

ARTICLE   IV. 

Section  1.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall  be 
a  president,  two  vice-presidents,  a  secretary 
and  a  treasurer,  who,  together,  shall  constitute 


104  DISCIPLINE. 

an  executive  committee  to  supervise  the  entire 
work  of  the  association  within  the  conference 
district.  It  shall  be  their  duty  to  make  earnest 
efforts  to  secure  the  organization  of  local  socie- 
ties in  all  the  United  Brethren  congregations 
within  the  bounds  of  the  conference. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary 
of  this  society  to  keep  a  correct  record  of  its 
proceedings  and  the  proceedings  of  the  execu- 
tive committee,  and  transmit  a  report  of  the 
same,  with  the  number  of  members,  to  the  re- 
cording secretary  of  the  Board  of  Managers  at 
least  ten  days  before  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Board. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  treasurer  to 
recieive  and  hold  the  funds  of  the  society,  and 
transmit  the  same  semi-annually  to  the  treasur- 
er of  the  board,  the  last  report  to  be  sent  in  at 
least  ten  days  before  the  meeting  of  the  Board 
of  managers. 

ARTICLE  V. 

Each  branch  society  shall  hold  antiaal  meet- 
ings to  elect  its  officers  and  members  of  the 
lioards  of  Managers,  and  to  transact  any  busi- 
ness pertaining  to  its  work,  its  members  to  con- 
sist of  the  officers  and  three  delegates  from  each 
local  society. 


DISCIPLINE.  10§ 

ARTICLE  VI. 

Each  branch  society  shall  provide  for  the  ex- 
penses of  its  delegates  to  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  Board  of  Managers. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

Life  members  within  the  bounds  of  the  confer- 
ence shall  be  regarded  advisory  members  of  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  branch  society. 

Local  Constitution. 

article  i. 

Local  societies  may  be  organized  by  securing 
names  of  persons  desiring  to  become  members 
in  any  United  Brethren  congregation,  and  puo- 
ceeding  to  the  election  of  officers. 

ARTICLE   II. 

The  officers  of  this  society  shall  consist  of  a 
president,  vice-pi*esident,  secretary  and  treas- 
ui"er,  and  two  or  more  collectors. 

ARTICLE   III. 

Sec.  1.  The  duties  of  the  president  shall  be 
those  usual  to  the  office. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  vice-presi- 
dent to  assume  the  duties  of  president  in  hex 
absence. 

/Sec  3.    It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to 


106  DISCIPLINE. 

keep  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  each  meeting, 
with  the  names  of  members,  and  report  quarter- 
ly to  the  secretary  of  the  branch  society. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  treasurer 
to  hold  all  funds  of  the  society  and  transmit  the 
same  semi-annually  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
branch  society. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duties  of  the  collectors 
to  visit  members  of  the  Church  and  solicit  names, 
collect  quarterly  dues,  and  report  the  number  of 
visits  and  amount  collected  at  each  meeting. 

ABTICIiE  IV. 

Any  child  may  become  a  member  of  a  local 
society  upon  such  terms  as  said  society  shall 
designate. 

ARTICLE   V 

All  local  societies  shall  meet  quarterly,  and 
shall  arrange  their  year  witli  reference  to  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  branch  society. 


CHAPTER    XVII.— CHURCH-ERECTIOX 

SOCIETY. 

I.  This  society  shall  be  known  as  The  Cliarch- 
Erection  Society  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ,  and  is  organized  for  the  purpose  of 
aiding  feeble  churches  in  the  erection  of  houses 
of  worship. 


DISCIPLINE.  107 

II.  The  Board  of  Missions  shall  constitute 
the  Board  of  Managers  of  this  society,  and  shall 
be  governed  by  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of 
the  Missionary  Society  so  far  as  they  are  appli- 
cable to  this  society. 

III.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  annual  con- 
ference to  make  a  reasonable  assessment  to  their 
various  fields  of  labor  for  this  interest,  which 
funds  when  collected  shall  be  transmitted  to  tho 
treasurer, 

IV.  The  treasurer  of  the  parent  Board  of 
Missions  shall  receipt  for  all  moneys  sent  him 
by  the  various  conference  treasurers,  that  they 
may  make  settlement  with  their  respective  an- 
nual conferences. 

V.  Application  for  aid  from  this  society  must 
be  made  to  the  Board  of  Managers,  through  the 
bishop  and  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district 
and  the  preacher  in  charge  of  the  circuit,  sta- 
tion, or  mission  where  such  house  is  to  be  erect- 
ed, who  shall  state  in  writing  the  condition  of 
the  society  desiring  such  aid,  the  prospects  of 
success,  and  the  security  of  the  investment. 

VI.  Should  any  society  thus  aided  lose  its 
organization,  so  as  to  make  the  sale  of  such 
house  necessary,  then,  out  of  the  proceeds  of 
such  sale,  the  amount  loaned  them,  with  inter- 
est, shall  be  refunded  to  the  Church-Erection 
Board. 


108  DISCIPLINE. 

VII.  The  Board  shall  make  uo  appropriations 
where  there  is  reasonable  prospect  that  the  soci- 
ety asking  aid  can  succeed  without  it.;  or  where 
there  is  no  prospect  of  building  up  a  good 
society. 

VII.  All  aid  rendered  shall  be  only  as  a  loan, 
the  principal  to  be  refunded,  without  interest, 
at  such  times  as  the  Board  may  direct,  but  in  no 
ease  for  a  longer  term  than  three  years  at  any 
one  time,  or  more  than  five  hundred  dollars  to 
any  individual  or  single  church ;  nor  shall 
moneys  be  loaned  to  any  society  until  their 
church-property  is  secured  by  deed  as  provided 
for  in  Discipline  ;  nor  shall  moneys  be  loaned  to 
churches  until  their  trustees  have  forwarded  an 
abstract  of  the  title  of  their  property  and  their 
notes,  secured  by  first  mortgage  on  the  premises 
and  properly  recorded  in  the  records  of  tl» 
ODurts  for  the  inspection  of  the  Board  of  Mana- 
ger or  Executive  Committee. 

Tne  trustees  of  cliurches  which  receive  moneys 
from  the  Ciiurch-lOiecLion  Society  sliall  be  i"e- 
quired  to  secure  from  loss  by  fire  said  church- 
buildings  in  some  reliable  insurance  company. 

IX.  The  Board  of  Managers  may  employ  one 
or  more  special  agents ;  provided,  however,  that 
said  agency  shall  not  be  continued  for  a  longer 
term  than  three  months,  unless  it  be  apparent 


DISCIPLINE,  109 

that  said  agency  is  a  moneyed  success  to  the 
society. 


CHAPTER  XVIII.— PRINTING  ESTAB- 
LISHMENT. 

Rule  1.  The  above  establishment  shall  be  call- 
od  "  The  Printing  Establishment  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ." 

Ride  2.  The  legislative  authority  herein  grant- 
ed shall  be  vested  in  the  General  Conference  of 
said  church,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  elect  the 
i>ecessary  officers  not  otherwise  provided  for, 
and  make  or  amend  any  rules  as  in  their  judg- 
ment may  seem  expedient. 

Rtde  3.  The  proceeds  of  said  establishment, 
over  and  above  contingent  expenses,  shall  be  ap- 
plied to  the  benefit  of  traveling  and  worn-out 
preachers,  and  their  widows  and  orphans.  The 
distribution  of  anj-  available  profits  of  the  pub- 
lishing house  for  this  purpose  shall  be  in  propor- 
tion to  the  number  of  regular  ministers  in  each 
ainiual  conference  who  are  itinerants,  according 
to  the  "  Itinerant  Plan "  of  the  Discipline.  It 
sliall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretaries  of  the  annual 
conferences  each  year  to  report  to  the  publishing 
agent  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  the  true  number  of  such 
itinerants  as  found  upon  the  records  of  the  sev- 


110  niMCIPLTNE. 

eral  conferences  ;  also  the  name  and  address  of 
the  conference  treasurer  appointed  to  receive  the 
dividend  awarded  to  his  conference. 

Rvle  4.  A  board  of  seven  trustees,  elected  by 
the  General  Conference,  shall  take  the  oversight 
of  the  establishment. 

Rule  5.  The  officers  of  the  establishment  shall" 
consist  of  seven  trustees,  one  agent,  and  such 
number  of  editors  as  the  General  Conference 
shall  deem  necessary. 

Rule  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  trustees  to 
fix  the  salaries  of  agent  and  editors,  to  make  set- 
tlement vidth  the  officers  of  the  establishment 
every  six  months,  and  see  that  they  properly 
discharge  their  duties,  and,  if  found  derelict, 
may  suspend  them  from  office  until  the  General 
Conference ;  provided,  no  such  officers  shall  be 
suspended  until  they  have  been  furnished  with 
a  copy  of  the  complaints  in  writing,  and  have 
had  an  opportunity  of  defense  before  the  Board 
of  Trustees.  They  shall  also  have  the  privilege 
of  making  any  by-laws  which  may  seem  expe- 
dient for  the  better  regulation  of  the  minor  con- 
cerns of  the  office ;  provided,  they  do  not  violate 
any  part  of  the  foregoing  rules. 

Rule  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  agent  to 
take  charge  of  the  temporal  concerns  of  the  of- 
fice, furnish   such  material   as   may  be   Deodtxl, 


DISCIPLINE.  Ill 

and  to  act  as  the  general  book-agent  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He  shall 
prepare  and  publish  a  report  annually,  through 
the  Heligious  Telescope  and  Joyful  Messenger, 
and  shall  also  make  a  report  to  the  General  Con- 
ference. It  shall  be  his  duty  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  verbatim  reports  of  the  pro<?eedings  of 
the  General  Conference  for  publication. 

Rule  8.  Should  a  vacancy  occur  in  any  of  th« 
offices  of  the  establishment,  or  in  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  the  trustees  may  fill  said  vacancy,  un- 
til the  sitting  of  the  next  General  Conference. 

Rule  9.  No  editor  or  officer  employed  in  the 
establishment  shall  accept  any  office  or  engage 
In  any  business  which  will  interfere  with  the 
duties  of  his  office. 


CHAPTER  XIX.— COURSE  OF  READING 
AND  STUDY. 

Section  I. 

For  licentiate  preachers,  upon  which  they  aie 
to  be  examined  by  the  annual  conference  to 
which  they  belong.  They  shall  be  examined, 
also,  each  year  of  their  probation,  on  the  doc- 
trine and  government  of  the  Church,  as  taught 
in  our  book  of  Discipline     It  is  presumed   that 


112  DISCIPLINE, 

a  fair  knowledge  of  the  ordinary  branches  of  an 
English  or  German  education  has  been  acquired 
before  entering  upon  this  course.  If  the  licenti- 
ate does  not  possess  such  knowledge,  he  shall  be 
examined,  in  each  year,  on  grammar  and  geog- 
raphy. 

s 

FIRST  YEAR — BIBLE   DOCTRINE. 

Human  Depravity  ;  The  Atonement ;  Redemp- 
tion ;  Repentance ;  Justification  by  Faith ;  Re- 
generation ;  Adoption ;  Witness  of  the  Spirit ; 
Christian  Perfection  ;  Possibility  of  Final  Apos- 
tasy; Existence  and  Attributes  of  God. 

Books  Required. — Bible  ;  Watson's  Institutes  ; 
Broadus'  Homiletics  ;  Philosophy  of  the  Plan  of 
Salvation;  Harris'  Great  Commission;  Fletch- 
er's Appeal ;  History  of  tlie  United  Brethren  in 
Christ;  an  essay  on  •written  sermon. 

Books  i^ecomwenrfefL— Bridges'  Christian  Min- 
istry ;  Upham's  Life  of  Faitli ;  Whateley's  Rhet- 
oric ;  Shedd's  Christian  Doctrine ;  Thwing's 
Drill-Book  of  Vocal  Culture;  Barrow's  Sacred 
Geography  and  Antiquities  ;  Christlieb's  Prot- 
estant Foreign  Missions. 

SECOND  YEAR — BIBLE   DOCTRINE. 

Trinity;  Divinity  and  Humanity  of  Christ; 
Personality  and  Deity  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  Doc- 
trines Relating  to  Man. 


DISCIPLINE.  113 

Books  Hequired.— Bible ;  Watson's  Institutes^ 
continued ;  Shedd's  Homiletics ;  Blackburn's 
History  of  the  Christian  Church  to  chapter  six- 
teen; Hopkins'  Law  of  Love;  Haven's  Mental 
Pliilosophy;  Alexander's  Evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity ;  written  sermon. 

Books  Ilecommended. — Uphain's  Interior  Life  ; 
Neander's  Planting  and  training  of  the  Christiaf! 
Church  (Robinson's  Translation);  Jahn's  Arch- 
aeology; Weber's  Universal  History;  Shedd's 
Christian  Doctrine ;  Kurtz'  Church  History ; 
Schaff's  Apostolic  Church. 

THIRD   YEAR — BIBLE   DOCTRINES   AND    INSTITU- 
TIONS. 

Immortality  of  fhe  Soul ;  Resurrection  of  th« 
Body ;  Future  General  Judgment ;  Eternal  Re- 
wards and  Punishments ;  The  Christian  Sabbath ; 
The  Lord's-supper  ;  Christian  Baptism. 

Books  Required. — Bible  ;  Watson's  Institutes  ; 
Blackburn's  History  of  the  Christian  Church, 
continued  and  close ;  Smith's  Old-Testament 
History;  Smith's  New-Testament  History  ;  Cole- 
man's Geographical  History  of  the  Bible ;  But- 
ler's Analogy ;  Companion  to  the  Bible — Bar- 
rows ;  Whateley's  Logic ;  written  sermon. 

Books  Becommended.  —  Vinet's  Homiletics  ; 
D'Aubigne's  History  of  the  Reformation ;  Jose- 
phus'  Antiquities  of  the  Jews  ;  Hackett's  lUus- 
8 


114  DISCIPLINE. 

trations  of  Scripture  ;  Upbam's  Divine  Union  ; 
Blackburn's  History  of  the  Christian  Church : 
Hopkin's  Law  of  Love ;  Haven's  Mental  Piiil- 
osophy ;  Alexander's  Evidences  of  Christianity ; 
written  sermon. 

^  GERMAN   COURSE   OF   READING. 

First  Year. — Bible ;  Discipline ;  History  of 
United  Brethren  Church ;  Kurtz'  Church  Histo- 
ry, first  part;  Sulzberger's  Dogmatic,  first  part; 
History  of  the  World,  by  Colver  Society  ;  Clark's 
Hand-Book ;  Fletcher's  Appeal ;  Nelson  on  Infi- 
delity ;  Hare  on  Justification;  Nippart''s  Practi- 
cal Theology  ;  Heyse's  German  Grammar  ;  writ- 
ten sermon  on  justification. 
•  'Second  Year. — Bible;  United  Bi*ethren  Church 
History;  Discipline  and  Heyse's  Grammar  con- 
tinued; Kurtz'  Church  History,  second  part; 
Sulzberger's  Dogmatic,  second  part;  D'Aubigne's 
History  of  the  Reformation  ;  Zeller  on  the  Soul ; 
Philosophy  of  the  Plan  of  Salvation  ;  Luthardt's 
Apologetische  Vortrsege;  written  Sermon  on  the 
Christian  Sabbath. 

Third  Year. — Bible;  Sulzberger's  Dogmatic, 
third  part;  Osterzee's  Theology  of  the  New  Test- 
ament;  Luthardt's  Ethics ;  Lisco's  Apostolic 
Creed  ;  Nast  on  the  God-Man  Christ  ;  Pearson's 
Infidelitj^;  written  sermon  on  baptism. 

Any  licentiate  who  fails  to  read  the  books  ro- 


DISCIPLINE.  116 

quired,  and  to  submit  to  the  examination,  shall, 
at  the  close  of  the  third  year  of  his  probation  at 
furthest,  have  his  name  erased  from  the  annual- 
conference  record,  unless  a  reasonable  excuse 
can  be  gi^'^u  for  such  failure,  in  which  case  he 
shall  be  referred  back  to  and  have  standing  in 
the  quarterly  conference  as  a  licensed  preacher  ; 
'promded,  if  in  the  judgment  of  the  conference 
they  see  fit,  the  conference  may  relieve  graduates 
of  Union  Biblical  Seminary  from  examination 
on  the  above  course. 


CHAPTER  XX.— MEETING-HOUSES  AND 
PARSONAGES. 

Ques.  Is  anything  advisable  in  regard  to  the 
building  of  meeting-houses  ? 

Ayis.  Let  all  our  meeting-houses  be  built 
plain  and  neat,  with  free  seats,  and  not  more  ex- 
pensive than  necessary. 

Ques^*To  whom  are  our  meeting-houses,  and 
the  premises  belonging  to  them,  to  be  deeded? 

Ans.  To  a  board  of  trustees,  who  shall  in  all 
cases  have  warranty  deeds  legally  executed  and 
made  to  them  and  their  successors  in  office,  in 
trust  for  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Qbrist,  who  shall  have  the  same  recorded  in  the 
county  records  where  the  property  is  situated. 


116  DISCIPLINE. 

Ques.  How  is  the  board  of  trustees  to  be  con- 
Btituted  ? 

Ans.  Whenever  it  is  contemplated  by  a  soci- 
ety to  purchase  or  build  a  meeting--house,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  a  leader  or  steward  of  such 
society  to  make  it  known  to  the  C[uarterly  con- 
ference of  the  circuit  or  station  to  whieli  he  be- 
longs, whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  appoint  a  judi- 
cious board  of  trustees,  where  the  law  of  the 
state  does  not  otherwise  provide,  of  not  less  Lhan 
three  in  number,  or  as  the  law  of  the  state  in 
wliich  said  house  is  to  bo  Built  may  direct;  pro- 
vided,  however,  that  at  least  a  majority  of  such 
board  of  trustees  shall  be  members  of  our 
church.  T!ie  trustees  sliall  hold  their  ollice  dur- 
ing the  pleasure  of  the  quarterly  conference. 

Ques.  How  are  the  trustees  to  proceed  in 
building  a  house? 

Ans.  No  society  shall  commence  the  building 
o^f  any  meeting-house  without  first  getting  an 
act  of  incorporation,  where  the  law  of  t,he  state 
I'equii'fes  it.  They  shall  form  an  estimate  of  the 
amount  necessary  to  procure  a  lot,  to  build,  and 
to  make  such  other  improvements  as  may  be 
considered  necessary.  And  they  shall  at  no 
time  proceed  with  the  building  of  a  house  of 
worship,  beyond  the  means,  either  in  hand  or 
sufficiently  secured,  so  as  to  avoid  involving  our 
houses  of  worship  in  any  way  in  debt. 


DISCIPLINE.  117 

The  trustees  shall  hold  annual  meetings,  or 
ofteuer  if  need  be,  and  shall  elect  fi-oin  their 
number  the  following  officers  ;  namely,  a  presi- 
dent, secretary,  and  treasurer.  The  meetings  of 
the  board  shall  be  subject  to  the  call  of  the  pres- 
ident. Itshall.be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to 
keep  a  correct  record  of  all  the  business  transac- 
tions of  the  board,  in  a  book  provided  for  that 
purpose,  which  shall  at  all  times  be  open  for  in- 
spection by  the  quarterly  conference  of  the 
charge  having  the  care  of  the  property.  The 
treasurer  shall  receive  all  funds  for  meeting- 
house, cemetery,  and  parsonage  purposes,  and 
pay  out  the  same  under  the  direction  of  the 
board,  and  report  to  the  board  the  financial  con- 
dition at  their  several  meetings. 

The  board  shall  make  an  annual  report  to  the 
quarterly  conference. 

Ques.  ^/hat  shall  be  done  wiieu  a  vacancy  or 
vacanciej>  occur  in  the  board  of  trustees? 

Arts.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  quarterly 
(X>nferenco  to  appoint  a  suitable  person  or  \)(iv- 
sons  to  fill  such  vacancies. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  any  of  our 
houses  are  vacant  ? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  quarterly 
conference  of  the  nearest  circuit  or  station  to 
appoint  not  less  than  three  suit .  .le  persons  for 


118  DISCIPLINE. 

•trustees,  who  shall  have  the  power,  when  au- 
thorized by  two  thirds  of  the  members  of  that 
conference,  to  lease,  rent,  or  sell  such  meeting- 
house, and  the  appurtenances  belonging  to  it, 
and  to  appropriate  the  money  arising  from  such 
lease,  rent,  or  sale,  by  the  direction  of  said  con- 
ference, toward  the  ereciiou  of  new  meeting- 
houses, or  the  liquidation  of  debts  on  old  ones. 
If  the  vacated  house  be  a  parsonage,  the  pro- 
ceeds shall  be  disposed  of  in  like  manner  ;,  but 
in  every  case  the  proceeds  arising  from  the  lease, 
rent,  or  sale  of  parsonage  property  shall  be  kept' 
sacred  for  parsonage  purposes.  When  a  lot  is 
deeded  to  an  English  United  Brethren  society,  or 
to  a  German  United  Brethren  society,  and  one 
or  the  other  cease  to  exist  in  an  organized  form 
by  deaths,  removals,  expulsions,  or  otlierwise, 
the  remaining  oi-gaiiized  class  shall  have  full 
right  to  make  such  improvements  or  repairs  on 
said  lot,  as  may  be  needed  for  worship,  and  a 
p-^aceable  possession. 

The  above  rules  to  be  observed  in  purchasing 
oi-  building  parsonage-houses. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  our  presiding  elders,  as 
soon  as  convenient,  to  appoint,  or  see  that  three 
or  ti\  e  snitable  persons  are  appointed,  with  the 
consent  of  tlie  quarterly  conference,  to  take  up 
subscription-  to  build  or  purchase  parsonage- 
liouses  lor  their  respective  stations  or  circuits, 


DISCIPLINE.  119' 

the  same  to  be  deeded  to  those  three  or  five  trus- 
tees, and  their  successors  in  office,  for  the  use  of 
the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Clirist. 
We  recommend  that  all  our  parsonage-houses  be 
plain,  andlocated  in  some  central  place. 

In  cases  where  fields  of  labor  are  divided  hav- 
ing parsonages  upon  them  the  disposition  of 
said  parsonages  shall  be  submitted  to  a  board  of 
arbiters,  consisting  of  three  members  of  the 
Church,  one  to  be  chosen  by  each  quarterly  con- 
ference, and  these  two  a  third,  to  whom  the 
whole  matter  shall  be  referred,  their  decision  of 
the  case  being  final.  In  cases  where  more  than 
two  quarterlj'  conferences  are  interested,  the 
same  plan  shall  be  pursued. 


CHAPTER  XXI.— BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 

I.  There  shall  be  a  general  board  of  education, 
known  by  the  name  of  "  The  Board,  of  Educa- 
tion," under  the  care  of  the  General  Conference 
of  the  Church  of  the  XJnited  Brethren  in  Christ. 

II.  This  board  shall  consist  of  twelve  nieni- 
bers,  elected  by  the  General  Conference  so  dis- 
tributed as  to  have  at  least  two  members  in  each 
bishop's  district,  except  the  Pacific,  which  shall 
have  one,  who  shall  hold  office  for  four  years, 
six  of  whom  shall  be  clergymen ;  the  remainder 


120  DISCIPLINE, 

■may  be  lay  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  Five  members,  including  the  president 
ar  vice-president,  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

III.  The  officers  shall  be  a  president,  vice- 
president,  recording  secretarj',  corresponding 
secretary,  and  treasurer.  These  shall  be  elected 
by  the  members  of  the  board  at  their  first  regu- 
lar meeting  after  the  sitting  of  General  Confer- 
ence,, and  shall  hold  office  until  the  next  regular 
sessioji  of  the  General  Conference. 

The  board  may  appoint  any  competent  per- 
sons, members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
to  be  their  treasurer  and  corresponding  secretary; 
these,  if  elected  outside  of  the  board,  shall  be 
advisory  members  of  the  board. 

In  case  of  vacancy  occurring  in  the  board,  by 
death  or  otherwise,  the  board  shall  have  power 
to  fill  the  vacancy,  the  election  to  be  by  ballot, 
and  the  person  elected  to  hold  office  until  the 
next  meeting  of  General  Conference. 

There  shall  be  at  least  one  session  of  the  board 
each  yea*.  Meetings  of  the  board  shall  be  called 
by  the  president,  upon  request  of  three  mem- 
bers. 

IV.  The  object  of  this  board  shall  be — 1.  To 
raise  funds  by  collection,  donation,*  bequest,  or 
otherwise,  to  aid  by  loan,  without  interest,  as  the 
executive  committee  may  determine,  in  educa- 


DISCIPUNE.  12X« 

ting,  both  in  their  collegiate  and  theological 
course,  pious  young  persons  who  are  preparing 
themselves  for  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry, 
or  as  missionaries,  in  "  the  United  Brethren 
Church;  provided,  however,  the  hoard  shall 
have  power  to  receive  money  and  use  it  for  other 
educational  purposes  as  donors  may  direct. 

2.  To  seek  by  the  publication  of  tracts,  pamph- 
lets, addresses,  or  books  upon  edrtcational  ques- 
tions, to  diffuse  among  our  members  a  more 
general  knowledge  of  the  value  of  a  sanctified 
education  and  of  a  well-instructed  ministry,  and 
thereby  awaken  in  them*  a  better  appreciation  of 
our  institutions  of'learning  and  of  the  obliga- 
tions resting  upon  them  to  give  of  their  sub- 
stance for  their  support. 

3.  To  make  an  annual  report  of  the  condition, 
financially  and  otherwise,  of  the  eolleges  and 
other  educational  institutions  of  the  Church ;  to 
make  such  recommendations  to  the  managers  of. 
these  institutions  as  will  tend  to  make  them  more 
efficient ;  to  secure,  as  far  as  may  seem  desirable, 
harmony  or  courses  of  study  between  prepara- 
tory schools  and  colleges  and  universities;  to 
discourage  the  raultiplicaton  of  schools  and  col- 
leges when  they  can  not  be  properly  supported ; 
to  recommend  methods  of  endowment,  plans  of 
building,  how  best  to  secure  funds,  and  give  any 


122  DISCIPLINE. 

other  counsel  which  the  interest  of  these  schools 
and  the  Church  naay  demand. 

V.  To  accomplish  these  results,  the  board 
may  cause  an  annual  collection  to  be  taken  on 
the  next  Sabbath  following  the  last  Thursday  of 
January,  or  at  such  tether  time  as  the  presiding 
tL- ler  of  the  district  may  deem  rnost  suitable. 
The  preacher  in  charge,  or  some  other  competent 
person,  shall  first  preach  a  sermon  or  make  ap- 
propriate remarks  concerning  the  object,  plans, 
and  working  of  this  board,  and  then  take  a  col- 
lection in  such  a  manner  as  will  secure  the  larg- 
est amount  of  funds.  If  the  board  deem  it  best, 
it  may  appropriate  the  amount  to  be  raised  to  the 
various  conferences,  according  to  their  number 
and  ability,  and  these  in  turn  shall  apportion  to 
their  respective  fields  of  labor. 

VI.  Young  persons  aided  by  this  board  naust 
first  be  recommended  by  the  conference  in  whose 
bounds  they  live,  or  to  which  they  belong,  or  by 
the  Board  of  Missions  when  the  applicant  does 
not  reside  within  the  bounds  of  any  conference, 
as  suitable  persons  to  receive  aid,  or  by  an  edu- 
cational committee  appointed  by  said  conference, 
to  whom  all  requests  for  aid,  not  acted  upon  by 
conference,  or  which  shall  occur  during  the  in- 
terim of  its  sitting,  shall  be  referred. 

VII.  The  funds  raised  in  any  conference  shall 


DISCIPLINE.  123 

be  applied  as  follows :  one  third  to  be  sent  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Education,  to  assist 
young  men  in  their  tlieological  course,  and  the 
remainder  shall  be  in  the  hands  of  a  treasurer 
elected  by  the  conference  and  used  for  the  aid  of 
young  men  in  securing  an  education,  as  th<j 
conference  may  direct.  This,  however,  shall 
not  prevent  the  board  from  assisting  applicants 
who  come  from  weak  or  mission-conferences  to 
such  an  extent  as  they  may  deem  best,  nor  in 
applying  donations  and  bequests  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  donors  may  desire, 

VIII.  The  board  shall  have  power  to  make 
persons  honorary  members  of  the  same  by  the 
payment  of  ^50.00.  The  persons  thus  made 
honorary  members  shall  have  the  right  to  sit  in 
the  meetings  of  the  board  and  engage  in  its 
deliberations,  but  shall  have  no  right  to  vote. 

IX.  The  board  shall  have  power  to  appoint 
an  executive  committee  from  its  own  body,  and 
to  make  such  by-laws  to  regulate  its  own  pro- 
ceedings, and  to  effectually  accomplish  the  object 
of  its  creation,  as  shall  not  be  inconsistent  with 
this  constitution. 

X.  The  board,  through  its  corresponding  seo- 
retarj%  shall  mr.ke  to  the  General  Conference  a 
report  of  all  the  work  done  during  the  preceding 
four  years,  including  money  received  by  coUec- 


124  DISCIPLINE. 

tions,  bequests,  or  otherwise,  the  amount  paid 
out,  and  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  paid. 
The  board  may  propose  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence, from  time  to  time,  such  plans  as  it  may 
consider  useful  or  necessary  for  the  success  of 
the  work  committed  to  it. 

XL  No  addition  or  amendment  to  the  pro- 
visions of  this  constitution  shall  be  made  unless 
by  consent  of  a  majority  of  the  members  of 
General  Conference  present  at  any  of  the  ses- 
sions. Notice  of  this  proposed  addition  or 
amendment  shall  have  been  given  at  least  one 
day  previous. 


CHAPTER  XXII.— BOUNDARIES. 

Section  I. 

Boundaries  of  Bishops'  Districts. 

Eastern  Listrict. — Pennsylvania  Conference, 
Eastern  German,  Virginia,  Par^ersburg,  Alle- 
ghany, Erie,  Muskingum,  and  Tennessee. 

North-  M''estern  Bistrici. — Fox  River  Conference, 
Micliij.an,  St.  Joseph, Upper  Wabash,  Rock  River, 
North  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Iowa, 
West  Des  i- oii.es,  Dakota,  West  Nebrasiva,  Colo- 
rado. « 

South-  Western  Bistrict. — Arkansas  Valley  Con- 
ference,  Osage,  West    Kansas,    Kansas,    South 


DISCIPLINE.  125 

Missouri,  Missouri,  Southern  Illinois,  Illinois, 
Lower  Wabash,  White  River,  Indiana,  Central 
Illinois,  East  Des  Moines,  East  Nebraska.        ' 

Ohio  District. — Scioto  Conference,  Sandusky, 
Miami,  Auglaize,  Ohio  German,  Ontario,  North 
Ohio,  Western  Reserve,  Kentucky,  Central  Olik). 

Pacific  District. — California  Conference,  Ore- 
gon, Walla  Walla. 

.*  *■ 

Section  II. 

AUeghany  Cor?/e7-er?.ce.— Beginning  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Mercer  County,  Pennsylvania; 
thence  east,  to  the  soutli-east  corner  of  Potter 
County;  thence  north,  to  the  state  line  between 
Pennsylvania  and  New  York ;  thence  east  on 
Siiid  line  to  the  point  where  the  Northern  Central 
Railroad  crosses  said  line  ;  thence  south-west  to 
the  north-west  corner  of  Union  ;  thence  along 
the  line  of  Eastoiii  German  Conference,  to  the 
iiioutii  of  the  Juniata  River  ;  thence  up  said  river 
t-o  Tuscarora  Mountain  ;  tlience.  southward  along 
s<iid  mountain  to  the  state  line.between  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania,  west  of  Fulton  County; 
thence  along  the  southern  boundary  of  Pennsyl- 
vania to  tlie  south-west  corner  of  said  state ; 
thence  northward  along  the  western  boundary 
of  Pennsylvania  to  the  south-west  corner  of 
Mercer  County,  the  place  of  beginning. 


126  DISOrPLINB. 

Arkansas  Valley  Conference. — Beginning  at  the 
north-west  corner  of  Osage  Conference ;  thence 
west  to  Colorado  line ;  thence  south  to  the  south 
line  of  the  state ;  thence  east  to  the  south-west 
corner  of  Osage  Conference  ;  thence  north  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

Auglaize  Conference. — Beginning  at  Union  City, 
Indiana ;  thence  west  with  the  Bellefontaine  & 
Indianapolis  Railroad,  to  Winchester  ;  thence  on 
a  straight  line  to  the  south-east  comer  of  Hunt- 
ington County,  Indiana  ;  thence  on  the  east  line 
of  said  county  north,  to  the  Wabash  River ; 
thence  down  said  river  to  the  crossing  of  the 
Toledo,  Wabash  &  Western  Railroad  ;  thence 
with  said  railroad  to  Ft.  Wayne,  including  said 
city;  thence  to  Paulding  Center,  including  all 
territory  now  occupied  by  said  conference; 
thence  due  east  to  Auglaize  River  ;  thence  along 
the  line  of  Sandusky  Conference,  including  Ada, 
North  Washington,  and  Dunkirk,  to  Forest; 
thence  with  the  Cleveland,  Sandusky  &  Cincin- 
nati Railroad,  to  the  line  of  Hardin  County ; 
thence  on  the  east  line  of  said  county,  to  the 
south-east  corner  thereof ;  thence  on  the  north 
and  east  lines  of  Union  County,  to  the  Delaware 
and  Springfield  branch  of  the  C.  C.  C.  <fe  I.  Rail- 
road ;  thence  with  said  railroad  to  Milford  Cen- 
ter, Ohio  ;  thence  with  the  Pan-Handle  Railroad 


DISOTPLINE.  127 


including  Urbana  and  Horatio,  to  Union  City, 
the  place  of  beginning. 

California    Conference. — Includes  the  State  of  ^* 
California. 

Central  Illinois  Cb7i/ere?/ce.— Beginning  at  Peru, 
on  the  Illinois  River ;  thence  up  the  Illinois 
River  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kankakee  River; 
thence  with  the  Chicago  Branch  of  tlie  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  to  Tolono ;  thence  with  the 
Great  Western  Railway  to  Bement ;  thence  di-^ 
rcct  to  Shelbj'ville  ;  thence  down  the  Okaw  River 
to  Vandalia ;  thence  direct  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Illinois. River  ;  thence  up  skid  river  to  the  x>lace 
of  beginning. 

Colorado  Conference. — Bounded  by  the  Union 
Pacific  Railroad  on  the  north,  and  by  the  state 
lines  of  Colorado  on  the  east,  south,  and  Avest. 

Dakota  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Mononee  County,  Iowa;  thence 
east  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Sac  County;, 
thence  north  on  the  count}'  line  to  the  line  of 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad ;  thence  east  by 
said  railroad  to  the  east  line  of  Webster  County ; 
thence  north  to  the  south  line  of  the  state  ol 
Minnesota ;  thence  west  on  said  line  to  the 
south-cast  corner  of  Noble  County,  Minnesota ; 
thence  north  to  the  north-east  corner  of  said 
county ;  thence  west  to  the  west  line  of  Minne- 


128  DISCIPLINE. 

sota ;  'thence  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Pipe- 
stone County ;  thence  west  to  the  Missouri 
River ;  thence  down  said  river  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

East  Des  Moines  Conference. — Beginning  at  tti« 
mouth  of  the  Iowa  River  ;  thence  up  said  river 
to  the  east  hne  of  Marshall  County,  Iowa ;  thence 
south  to  the  Mahaska  County  line  ;  thence  west 
to  the  corner  of  said  county,  thence  south  to  the 

f  Des  Moines  River;  thence  up  said  river  to  White 
Breast  Creek  ;  thence  up  said  creek  to  the  west 
line  of  Marion  County  ;  thence  south  f  o  the  cor- 
ner of  said  county ;  thence  south-west  to  the 
Wayne  County  line,  six  miles  east  of  the  north- 
west corner  of  said  county  ;  thence  south  twelve 
miles ;  thence  west  six  miles ;  thence  south  to 
the  Missouri  state  line ;  thence  east  on  the  line 
between  Iowa  and  Missouri  to  the  Mississip^ 
River ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  place  of  be- 

#  ginning. 

Eastern  Oerman  Confei^ence. — Beginning  at  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  ;  thence  along  the  40th  parallel 
of  north  latitude  to  the  Delaware  River ;  thence 
t<^)  the  north-east  boundary  of  the  city  of  Phiia^ 
delphia;  thence  west  and  south  along  the  bound- 
ary line  of  said  city  to  the  Schuylkill  River, 
leaving  the  city  of  Philadelphia  and  Camden,  N 
J.,  to  be  occupied  in  common  by  the  Pennsylva- 


DISCIPLINE.  129 

nia  and  East  German  conferences,  the  former 
exclusively  in  English,  and  the  latter  exclusively 
in  the  German  language ;  thence  up  said  river 
to  the  foot  of  Penn  Street  in  the  city  of  Reading; 
thence  up  said  street  to  Tenth  Street ;  thence 
north  along  Tenth  Street  to  the  city  limits 
thence  westward  around  said  city  limits  to  ta* 
Lebanon  Valley  Railroad ;  thence  west  aiong 
said  railix)ad  to  Beaver  Creek,  leaving  the  fol- 
lowing appointments  south  of  Lebanon  Valley 
Railroad  and  now  occupied  by  said  East  German 
Conference  to  be  occupied  by  said  conference — 
namely,  Shaffei-stown,  Blue  Church,  Avon,  jtf  1- 
myra,  Fishbums,  and  Snavelys ;  thence  up  said 
Beaver  Creek  to  the  South  Mountain;  thence 
across  said  mountain  to  Stony  Ci*eek;  thence 
west  to  the  Susquehanna  River,  leaving  Dau> 
phin  to  be  occupied  by  the  Pennsylvania  Confer- 
ence; thence  up  the  Susquehanna  River  to  the 
une  of  Juniata  County ;  thence  in  a  north-west- 
trn  direction  to  Richfield,  including  that  point ; 
whence  across  to  the  mountain  to  a  point  in 
Pennsylvania  Valley  called  Old  Fort;  thence 
north-east  through  the  Nitiny  to  the  West 
Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  down  to  the 
place  at  the  river  where  it  strikes  the  Alleghany 
Conference  line ;  thence  along  that  line  to  thA 
state  line  of  New  York, 


130  DISCIPLINE. 

Also  Otterbein  and  Third  churches,  with  any 
exclusively  German  missions  they  may  open  in 
the  city  of  Baltimore. 

Erie  Conference. — Beginning  on  the  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania ;  thence  south  along  the  state 
line  between  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  to  the 
south-west  corner  of  Mercer  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  thence  east  with  the  line  as  described  in 
tlie  bounding  of  the  Alleghany  Conference  to  the 
New  York  state  line,  and  including  the  State  of 
NcAV  York  and  all  that  part  of  Pennsylvania 
embraced  within  the  above  described  limits. 

Fox  River  Conference. — Beginning  at  Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin ;  thence  by  the  railroad  lines  to 
Watertown  and  Portage  City;  thence  up  the 
Wisconsin  River  to  the  Michigan  state  line ; 
thence  with  the  state  line  south-east,  and  the 
western  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

Illinois  Gonfei'ence. — Beginning  at  the  junction 
of  the  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers ;  thence  up 
the  latter  stream  to  the  crossing,  of,  the  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  <fe  Pacific  Railroad  ;  thence  east  with 
said  railroad  to  the  Illinois  River;  thence  down 
the  Illinois  River  to  its  mouth ;  thence  up  the 
Mississippi  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Indiana  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  south- 


DISCIPLINE,  ISl 

east  corner  of  Franklin  County,  Indiana ;  thence 
along  the  line  of  the  White  River  Conference,  as 
described  in  the  boundaries  of  that  conference, 
to  the  White  River  due  west  of  Franklin,  Indi- 
ana ;  thence  down  said  river,  and  the  Wabash,  to 
the  Ohio  River;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  River;  thence  up  the 
state  line  between  Ohio  and  Indiana  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

Iowa  Conference. — Beginning  on  the  Mississippi 
River,  with  the  north  line  of  the  State  of  Iowa; 
thence  due  west  on  said  line  to  the  west  line  of 
Winnebago  County;  thence  dne  south  to  the 
Dubuque  &  Sioux  City  Division  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  ;  thence  east  along  said  railroad 
to  the  Iowa  River;  thence  down  said  river  to  its 
junction  with  the  Mississippi  River;  thence  up 
the  Mississippi  River  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Kansas  Confei^ence. — Beginning  at  the  South- 
east corner  of  Maumee  County,  Kansas  ;  thence 
west  to  the  center  of  McPherson  County  ;  thence 
north  to  the  Nebraska  and  Kansas  line  ;  thence 
east  to  the  Missouri  River  ;  thence  on  the  Kan- 
sas and  Missouri  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Lower  Wabash  Conference. — Beginning  at  Gos- 
port,  on  White  River ;  thence  with  the  railroad 
to  Greencastle ;  thence  with  the  Indianapolis  4l 
Terre   Haute  Railroad   to   the  Wabash  River; 


132  DISCIPLINE. 

thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  Bruletts 
Greek ;  thence  up  said  creek  to  Cherry  Point ; 
thence  west  on  th«  line  of  the  Indianapolis,  De- 
catur &  Springfield  Railroad,  to  and  including 
Tuscola;  thence  north  by  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road to  Tolono  ;  thence  west  and  south  with  the 
line  of  Central  Illinois  Conference  to  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Illinois  Central  and  Ohio  &  Mississippi 
Railroad  ;  thence  by  the  Skillet  Fork  and  Little 
Wabash  rivers  to  Carmi ;  thence  down  the  Little 
Wabash  River  to  its  mouth  ;  thence  up  the 
Wabash  and  White  rivers  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

Miami  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Great  Miami  River;  thence  nortli  on  the  line 
between  Ohio  and  Indiana,  to  Union  City,  and 
to  include  that  city ;  thence  east  with  the  Pitts- 
burgh, Cincinnati  <fe  St.  Louis  Railway  to  the 
east  line  oi  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  including 
Piqua ;  thence  south  on  the  east  lines  of  the 
counties  of  Champaign,  Green,  Clinton,  and  a 
part  of  Brown  County,  to  Ripley ;  thence  down 
the  Ohio  River  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Michigan  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Branch  County,  Michigan  ;  thence 
east  on  the  north  line  of  Branch,  Hillsdale, 
Lenawee,  and  Monroe,  to  the  north-east  corner 
of  Monroe  County ;  thence   beginning   at  the 


DISCIPLINE.  133 

north-east  comer  of  Moijroe  County,  Michigan 
thence  west,  on  the  north  line  of  Lenawee,  Hills- 
dale, and  Branch  counties  to  the  Grand  Rapids 
&  Indiana  Railroad ;  thence  by  said  railroad  to 
Kalamazoo  j  thence  by  the  South  Haven  &  Kala- 
mazoo Railroad  to  South  Haven ;  thence  along 
the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  to  Grand  Haven ; 
thence  by  the  Detroit  &  Milwaukee  Railroad  east 
to  Detroit;  thence  down  the  Detroit  River  and 
the  western  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

Muskingum  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  point 
where  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago 
Railroad  crosses  the  line  between  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio  ;  thence  west  on  the  Une  of  said  rail- 
road, to  the  west  line  of  Ashland  County,  Ohio 
embracing  Warner's  Chapel,  Benjamin  Warner's, 
and  Lower's  appointments ;  thence  south  to  the 
north  line  of  Knox  County ;  thence  west  to  the 
north-west  corner  of  said  county  ;  thence  south 
to  the  south-west  corner  of  Knox  County; 
thence  east  along  the  lines  of  Knox  and  Coshoc- 
ton counties,  to  Dresden ;  thence  down  the  Mui*- 
kingum  River  to  its  mouth  ;  thence  up  the  Ohio 
River  and  Ohio  state  line  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

Missouri  Conference.— 'Embvsices  all  that  pari 
of  the  State  of  Missouri  lying  north  of  the  Mis- 
souri River. 


134  DISCIPLINE.  ' 

Minnesota  Conference. — Bounded  by  the  state 
lines,  embracing  the  whole  State  of  Minnesota 
except  the  counties  of  Noble,  Rock,  and  Pipe- 
stone. The  above  named  conference  also  em- 
braces the  counties  of  Grant  and  Dual  in  Dakota 
Territory. 

Nebraska  Conference. — Embraces  the  south- 
eastern portion  of  Nebraska,  and  as  far  west  and 
north  as  the  lines  describing  the  West  Nebraska 
Conference  boundaries. 

North  Michigan. — Includes  all  that  part  of  the 
State  of  Michigan  lying  north  of  the  Detroit  & 
Milwaukee  Railroad,  except  that  Ovid  and  Ben- 
gal circuits  remain  with  Michigan  Conference. 

North  Ohio  Conference. — Beginning  at  the 
north-west  corner  of  Branch  County,  Michigan  ; 
thence  east  on  the  north  lines  of  Branch,  Hill- 
side, Lenawee,  and  Monroe  counties,  to  the 
north-east  corner  of  Monroe  County  ;  thence  on 
the  coast  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  mouth  of  Maumee 
River ;  thence  upsaid  river  to  Defiance ;  thence 
up  the  Auglaize  River  to  a  point  east  of  the  city 
of  Paulding  Centre ;  thence  by  the  way  of 
Paulding  Centre  to  Ft,  Wayne  ;  thence — leaving 
Ft.  Wayne  to  Auglaize  Conference — on  the  Ft, 
Wayne  and  Chicago  Railroad  to  Columbia, 
Whitley  County ;  thence  due  north  to  the  line 
of  Noble  County;  thence  east  to  the  corner  of 


DISCIPLINE.  135 

Noble  County;  thence  north— including  the 
Salem  appointment  within  the  North  Ohio  Con- 
ference, to  the  state  line  of  Michigan,  at  the 
south-west  corner  of  Branch  County  ;  thence  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

Ohio  German  Conference. — Bounded  by  the 
state  lines  of  Oliio,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  Illi- 
nois. They  are  permitted  to  go  into  any  of  the 
western  states  or  territories,  where  doors  of  use- 
fulness open  unto  them  to  labor  among  the  Ger- 
uian  population. 

Ontario  Conference. — Includes  all  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Ontario,  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 

Oregon  Conference. — Includes  in  its  territory 
all  of  that  portion  of  country  lying  west  of  the 
Cascade  range  of  mountains,  both  in  Oregon  and 
Washington  Territory. 

Osage  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Chautauqua  County,  Kansas ; 
thence  north  to  the  south  line  of  Kansas  Confer- 
ence; thence  due  east  to  the  nortli-east  coriier  of 
Linn  County;  thence  south  to  the  state  line; 
thence  west  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Parkershurg  Conference. — Beginning  on  the 
summit  of  the  Alleghany  Mountain,  at  the  line 
between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia;  thence 
along  the  summit  of  said  mountain  south-west 
to  the  line  between  Virginia  and  North  Carolina; 


4136  DISCIPLINE. 

thence  west  on  said  line  to  the  south-west  come? 
of  the  State  of  Virginia;  thenee  with  the  Vir- 
ginia and  Kentucky  line  north  to  the  Ohio  River; 
thence  with  said  river  to  the  Pennsylvania  state 
line;  thence  east  on  said  line  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

Pennsylvania  Conference. — Beginning  on  the 
summit  of  South  Mountain  on  the  Une  between 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania;  thence  to  West- 
minister, Md.;  thence  to  Baltimore,  including 
that  city ;  thence  south  along  the  Chesapeake 
Bay  to  a  point  opposite  the  line  between  Virginia 
and  Maryland  ;  thence  across  said  bay  and  along 
said  line  to  the  sea-coast ;  thence  along  said  coast 
north  to  the  line  of  the  East  German  Confer- 
ence ;  thence  along  said  line  to  the  Susquehanna 
River ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Juniata  River ;  thence  up  said  river  to  Tuscarora 
Mountain ;  thence  along  said  mountain  to  the 
east  corner  of  Fulton  County ;  thence  west  along 
said  line  to  the  line  between  Fulton  and  Bedford 
counties;  thence  along  said  line  to  the  line  be- 
tween Pennsj'lvania  and  Maryland ;  thence 
along  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning.  Dun- 
can's Isle  belongs  to  this  conference. 

Rock  Rive)'  Conjerence. — Beginning  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  ;  thence 
east  with   the  north   boundary  of    the  Ulinoia 


DISCIPLINE.  137 

Central,  Illinois,  and  Upper  Wabash  conferenois 
to  the  Indiana  State  line ;  thence  north  on  said 
line  to  Lake  Michigan ;  thence  along  said  line 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Sandusky  Covference. — Beginning  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Vermillion  River,  on  Lake  Erie ;  thence 
on  an  air-line  south,  to  the  south-west  corner  of 
Ashland  County ;  thence  with  the  north  and 
west  lines  of  Knox  County,  to  the  south-west 
corner  of  said  county  ;  thence  to  the  north-west 
corner  of  Trenton  Township,  Delaware  County ; 
thence  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Genoa  Town- 
ship, of  the  same  county ;  thence  west  on  the 
Scioto  Conference  line,  embracing  Pleasant  Val- 
ley, in  Madison  County ;  thence  along  the  east 
and  north  lines  of  Union  County,  to  the  south- 
east corner  of  Hardin  County ;  thence  along  the 
east  line  of  said  county  to  Forest ;  thence  west 
on  the  Pittsburgh  and  Fort  "Wayne  Railroad  to 
Johnstown  ;  thence  to  Cairo ;  thence  to  Kalida ; 
thence  to  Defiance;  thence  down  the  Maumee 
River  and  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

Scioto  Oonference. — Beginning  at  Dresden,  on 
the  Muskingum  River;  thence  west  on  the 
south  lines  of  Coshocton  and  Knox  counties  to 
the  south-west  corner  of  Knox  County  ;  thence 
to  the  north-west  corner  of  Trenton  Township, 


138  DISCIPLINE. 

Delaware  County ;  thence  to  the  sont] -east  cor- 
ner of  Genoa  Township,  of  the  same  county; 
thence  west  on  the  Delaware  County  line  to  the 
Whetstone  River  ;  thence  to  the  north-west  cor- 
ner of  Madison  County  ;  thence  south,  embrac- 
ing Fayette,  Highland,  and  a  part  of  Brown 
County,  to  Ripley,  on  the  Ohio  River ;  thence  up 
said  river  to  the  mouth  of  Muskingum  River  ; 
thence  up  said  river  to  Dresden,  the  i^lace  of  be- 
ginning. 

Southern  Illinois  Coyiference. — Embraces  all 
that  part  of  the  State  of  Illinois  Ij'ing  south  and 
west  of  the  Central  Illinois  and  Lower  Wabash 
conferences. 

Souih-icestern  Missoiiri  Mission-Conference.— 
Embraces  all  of  that  part  of  Missouri  lying 
south  of  the  Missouri  River. 

Si.  Joseph  Co7?/erewce.— Beginning  at  Peru,  In- 
diana, on  the  Wabash  River ;  thence  up  said 
river  to  Huntington  ;  thence  up  the  Auglaize 
Conference  line  to  Ft.  Wa^'ne ;  thence  by  the 
Pittsburgh,  Ft.  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad,  to 
Columbia  City;  thence  due  north  to  the  line  of 
Noble  County ;  tlience  east  to  the  soutli-easi 
corner  of  said  county;  thence  iiortli  on  the  east 
lines  of  Noble  and  Lagr;;nge  counties  to  the 
Michigan  state  line ;  thence  west  on  said  line  to 
the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad ;  thence 
1 


DISCIPLINE,  139 

by  said  railroad  to  Kalamazoo,  Michigan  ;  thence 
by  the  Kalamazoo  &  South  Haven  RaiJroad  to 
Lake  Michigan  ;  thence  along  the  lake  shore  to 
the  line  of  Illinois  and  Indiana  ;  thence  south  to 
Beaver  Lake  ;  thence  to  the  mouth  of  Big  Monon 
Creek ;  thence  down  the  Tippecanoe  River  to  the 
Wabash,  to  Lafayette,  including  Lafayette ; 
thence  along  the  Strawtowu  Road,  including  the 
town  of  Jefiferson,  to  the  Indianapolis  &  Peru 
Railroad ;  thence  along  said  railroad  to  the  place 
of  beginning,  including  all  the  towns  and 
churches  north  of  Kokomo. 

Jennessee  Conference. — Embraces  all  that  part 
of  the  State  of  Tennessee  east  of  a  due  north  and 
south  line  drawn  through  Nashville,  the  capita^ 
of  the  state. 

Upper  Wabash  Conference. — Beginning  at  Gos- 
port,  on  White  River,  to  the  crossing  of  the 
Indianapolis  &  Peru  Railroad  ;  tlience  on  the 
Strawtown  Road  to  Lafayette,  on  the  Wabash 
River ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  Tip- 
pecanoe River  ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth 
of  Big  Monon  Creek ;  thence  in  a  north-we'^tern 
direction  to  the  northern  extremity  of  Beaver 
Lake ;  thence  to  Kankakee  City ;  U'lence  south 
along  the  Chicago  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  to  Tuscola,  and  including  Tolono; 
thence  east  with  the  line  of  Lower  Wabash  Con- 
ference to  place  of  beginning. 


140  DISCIPIilNB. 

Virginia  (inference. — Beginning  at  the  soxxth- 
east  corner  of  the  State  of  Virginia ;  thence 
along  the  western  shore  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay 
to  Baltimore ;  thence  to  Westminster ;  thence  to 
the  summit  of  the  South  Mountain,  on  the  state 
line  between  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania; 
thence  west  on  said  line  to  the  summit  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountain;  thence  south,  along  the 
summit  of  said  mountain,  to  the  state  line  be- 
tween Virginia  and  North  Carolina ;  thence  east 
on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning.  The  Vir- 
ginia Conference  shall  also  include  all  the  aj)- 
pointments  embraced  in  the  Alleghany  and  New 
Germany  circuits,  now  occupied  by  the  said 
conference  within  the  limits  of  the  Parkersburg 
Conference. 

West  JDes  Moines  Confei^ence. — Beginning  at  the 
north-west  corner  of  Monona  County ;  thence 
to  south-east  corner  of  Sac  County ;  thence  east 
along  the  Central  Illinois  Railroad  to  the  east 
line  of  Marshall  County;  thence  south  on  the 
line  of  East  Des  Moines  Conference  to  the  Mis- 
souri state  line ;  thence  west  to  the  soutli-west 
corner  of  the  State  of  Iowa ;  thence  along  the 
west  line  of  the  state  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
Including  Calhoun,  Webster,  Hamilton,  and 
Hardin. 

Wext  Kansas  Oow/er«nce.— Beginning   on    the 


DISCPLIINE.  141 

north  at  the  center  of  Republic  County ;  thence 
south  to  the  north  line  of  Arkansas  Valley  Con- 
ference; thence  west  to  the  Colorado  line; 
thence  north  to  the  Nebraska  line ;  thence  east 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 

West  Nebraska  Conference, — Beginning  at  the 
north-east  corner  cf  Hamilton  County;  thence 
south  to  Nebraska  state  line ;  thence  west  to  the 
south-west  corner  of  the  State  of  Nebraska ; 
thence  north  to  the  north-west  corner  of  the 
State  of  Nebraska ;  thence  east  to  the  north-east 
corner  of  Nebraska;  thence  south  to  the  Platte 
River ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

Western  Reserve  Oynference, — Beginning  at  the 
north-east  corner  of  the  State  of  Ohio ;  thence 
south  on  the  state  line  to  the  crossing  of  said 
line  by  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  <fe  Chicago 
Railroad  ;  thence  west,  embracing  Pleasant  Val- 
ley, Paradise,  and  Carr  appointments,  with  said 
raih-oad,  to  the  west  line  of  Ashland  County, 
Ohio ;  thence  north  to  the  mouth  of  Vermillion 
River;  thence  east  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie 
to  the  place  of  beginning;  provided,  that  Orange- 
ville  Church  in  Ohio  remain  with  Erie  Confer- 
ence, and  Beaver  Church  in  Pennsylvania  re- 
main with  Western  Reserve  Conference 

While  River  OoTy'erewce.— Beginning  at  and  i» 


142  DISCIPLINE. 

eluding  Indianapolis  and  suburbs;  thence  up 
White  River  to  the  crossing  of  the  Indianapolis 
&  ^Peru  Railroad  ;  thence  along  said  railroad 
to  the  "Wabash  River ;  thence  up  said  river  to 
the  Wells  County  line;  thence  south  to  the 
south-east  corner  of  Huntington  County ;  thence 
on  a  straight  line  to  Winchester ;  thence  eastward 
along  the  railroad  to  the  Ohio  and  Indiana  state 
line;  thence  south  along  the  state  line  to  the 
south-east  corner  of  Franklin  Countj'-,  Indiana . 
thence  westward  to  Greensburg;  thence  to  Co- 
lumbus ;  thence  to  Nashville ;  thence  west  to 
White  River ;  thence  up  the  river  to  the  south 
line  of  Marion  County;  thence  west  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  said  county  ;  thence  north  to  the 
north-west  corner  of  the  same  county ;  thence 
east  on  the  north  line  to  the  Peru  &  Indianapolis 
Railway.  Kokomo  and  all  the  towns  and  church- 
es on  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Indianapolis  A 
Peru  Railroad,  south,  are  within  the  bounds  of 
White  River  Conference.  All  the  towns  and 
churches  north  of  Kokomo,  on  and  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  said  railroad,  are  within  the  bounds  of 
St.  Joseph  Conference. 

Wisconsin  Conference. — Beginning  at  Milkau- 
kee,  Wisconsin;  thence  south  to  the  Illinois 
Btate  line ;  thence  west  on  the  line  between  Illi- 
nois and  Wisconsin  to  the  Mississippi  River; 


DISCIPLINE.  143 

thence  up  said  river  and  the  Wisconsin  state  line 
to  Lake  Superior ;  thence  with  the  shore  of  said 
lake  and  the  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  state  line 
to  the  Wisconsin  River ;  thence  down  said  river 
to  Portage  City;  thence  along  the  Watertown 
<fe  Portage  City  Railroad  to  Watertown ;  thence 
along  the  Milwaukee  &  Watertown  Railroad  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

Walla  Walla  Conference.  —  Includes  all  that 
portion  of  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory 
lying  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  also 
Idaho  Territory, 


BX9878.52.A11881 

Origin,  doctrine,  constitution,  and 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1012  00045  6139 


